Group B streptococcus polypeptides nucleic acids and therapeutic compositions and vaccines thereof

ABSTRACT

This invention provides isolated nucleic acids encoding polypeptides comprising amino acid sequences of streptococcal matrix adhesion (Ema) polypeptides. The invention provides nucleic acids encoding Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptides EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The present invention provides isolated polypeptides comprising amino acid sequences of Group B streptococcal polypeptides EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, including analogs, variants, mutants, derivatives and fragments thereof. Ema homologous polypeptides from additional bacterial species, including  S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, E. faecalis  and  C. diptheriae  are also provided. Antibodies to the Ema polypeptides and immunogenic fragments thereof are also provided. The present invention relates to the identification and prevention of infections by virulent forms of streptococci. This invention provides pharmaceutical compositions, immunogenic compositions, vaccines, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods of use of the isolated polypeptides, antibodies thereto, and nucleic acids. Assays for compounds which modulate the polypeptides of the present invention for use in therapy are also provided.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/333,002, filed Jul. 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,919, which is a U.S. National Stage application of PCT/US2001/24795 filed Aug. 8, 2001, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 09/634,341, filed Aug. 8, 2000, each of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT

The research leading to the present invention was supported, at least in part, by a grant from NAID, Grant No. A140918. Accordingly, the Government may have certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to extracellular matrix adhesin (Ema) proteins, antibodies thereto and to vaccines, compositions and therapeutics. The Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptides are EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The invention further relates to Ema polypeptides from various species of bacteria, including S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, E. faecalis and C. diptheriae. The invention also relates to the identification and prevention of infections by streptococci. Isolated nucleic acids encoding Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptides, particularly EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE and to other bacterial Ema homologs are included herein. Assays for compounds which modulate the polypeptides of the present invention for use in therapy are also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Streptococci are catalase negative gram positive cocci. They may be classified by the type of hemolysis exhibited on blood agar, by the serologic detection of carbohydrate antigens, or by certain biochemical reactions. Medically important streptococci include Groups A, B, D, S. pneumoniae and the viridans group of streptococci. Lancefield type A (GroupA) Streptococcus pyogenes is an important human pathogen—the cause of streptococcal pharyngitis, impetigo and more severe infections such as bacteremia and necrotizing fascitis. The immunologic sequalae of Group A Streptococcal infections are also important health problems—rheumatic carditis is the most common cause of acquired cardiac disease worldwide and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a cause of hypertension and renal dysfunction. Group B Streptococcus agalactiae are the most common cause of serious bacterial infections in newborns, and important pathogens in pregnant women and nonpregnant adults with underlying medical problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Group D streptococci include the enterococci (Streptococcus faecalis and faecium) and the “nonenterococcal” Group D streptococci. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is not classified by group in the Lancefield system. Pneumococci are extremely important human pathogens, the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia, middle ear infections and meningitis beyond the newborn period. The viridans group of streptococci include S. milleri, S. mitis, S. sanguis and others. They cause bacteremia, endocarditis, and dental infections. Enterococci are important causes of urinary tract infections, bacteremia and wound infections (predominantly as nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients), and endocarditis. Over the past decade enterococci have developed resistance to many conventional antibiotics and there are some strains resistant to all known antibiotics.

Group B streptococci (GBS) are the most common cause of serious bacterial disease in neonates, and are important pathogens in pregnant women and adults with underlying illnesses (Baker C J. (2000) “Group B streptococcal infections” in Streptococcal infections. Clinical aspects, microbiology, and molecular pathogenesis. (D. L. Stevens and E. L. Kaplan), New York: Oxford University Press, 222-237). Common manifestations of these infections include bacteremia, pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, and osteoarticular infections (Baker C J. (2000) “Group B streptococcal infections” in Streptococcal infections. Clinical aspects, microbiology, and molecular pathogenesis. (D. L. Stevens and E. L. Kaplan), New York: Oxford University Press, 222-237; Blumberg H. M. et al. (1996) J Infect Dis 173:365-373). The incidence of invasive GBS disease is approximately 2.6 in 1000 live births and 7.7 in 100,000 in the overall population, with mortality rates that vary from 6 to 30% (Baker C J. (2000) “Group B streptococcal infections” in Streptococcal infections. Clinical aspects, microbiology, and molecular pathogenesis. (D. L. Stevens and E. L. Kaplan), New York: Oxford University Press, 222-237; Blumberg H. M. et al. (1996) J Infect Dis 173:365-373). Although much neonatal disease is preventable by administration of prophylactic antibiotics to women in labor, antibiotic prophylaxis programs can be inefficient, suffer from poor compliance, or fail if antibiotic resistance emerges. No effective prophylaxis strategy for adult infections has been established.

During childbirth, GBS can pass from the mother to the newborn. By one estimate, up to 30% of pregnant women carry GBS at least temporarily in the vagina or rectum without symptoms. Infants born to these women become colonized with GBS during delivery (Baker, C. J. and Edwards, M. S. (1995) “Group B Streptococcal Infections” in Infectious Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Infant (J. S. Remington and J. O Klein), 980-1054). Aspiration of infected amniotic fluid or vaginal secretions allow GBS to gain access to the lungs. Adhesion to, and invasion of, respiratory epithelium and endothelium appear to be critical factors in early onset neonatal infection. (Baker, C. J. and Edwards, M. S. (1995) “Group B Streptococcal Infections” in Infectious Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Infant (J. S. Remington and J. O Klein), 980-1054; Rubens, C. E. et al. (1991) J Inf Dis 164:320-330). Subsequent steps in infection, such as blood stream invasion and the establishment of metastatic local infections have not been clarified. The pathogenesis of neonatal infection occurring after the first week of life is also not well understood. Gastrointestinal colonization may be more important than a respiratory focus in late onset neonatal disease (Baker, C. J. and Edwards, M. S. (1995) “Group B Streptococcal Infections” in Infectious Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Infant (J. S. Remington and J. O Klein), 980-1054). Considerable evidence suggests that invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells by GBS is the initial step in the pathogenesis of meningitis. GBS are able to invade human brain microvascular endothelial cells and type III GBS, which are responsible for the majority of meningitis, accomplish this 2-6 times more efficiently than other serotypes (Nizet, V. et al. (1997) Infect Immun 65:5074-5081).

Because GBS is widely distributed among the population and is an important pathogen in newborns, pregnant women are commonly tested for GBS at 35-37 weeks of pregnancy. Much of GBS neonatal disease is preventable by administration of prophylactic antibiotics during labor to women who test positive or display known risk factors. However, these antibiotics programs do not prevent all GBS disease. The programs are deficient for a number of reasons. First, the programs can be inefficient. Second, it is difficult to ensure that all healthcare providers and patients comply with the testing and treatment. And finally, if new serotypes or antibiotic resistance emerges, the antibiotic programs may fail altogether. Currently available tests for GBS are inefficient. These tests may provide false negatives. Furthermore, the tests are not specific to virulent strains of GBS. Thus, antibiotic treatment may be given unnecessarily and add to the problem of antibiotic resistance. Although a vaccine would be advantageous, none are yet commercially available.

Traditionally, GBS are divided into 9 serotypes according to the immunologic reactivity of the polysaccharide capsule (Baker C J. (2000) “Group B streptococcal infections” in Streptococcal infections. Clinical aspects, microbiology, and molecular pathogenesis. (D. L. Stevens and E. L. Kaplan), New York: Oxford University Press, 222-237; Blumberg H. M. et al. (1996) J Infect Dis 173:365-373; Kogan, G. et al. (1996) J Biol Chem 271:8786-8790). Serotype III GBS are particularly important in human neonates, causing 60-70% of all infections and almost all meningitis (Baker C J. (2000) “Group B streptococcal infections” in Streptococcal infections. Clinical aspects, microbiology, and molecular pathogenesis. (D. L. Stevens and E. L. Kaplan), New York: Oxford University Press, 222-237). Type III GBS can be subdivided into three groups of related strains based on the analysis of restriction digest patterns (RDPs) produced by digestion of chromosomal DNA with Hind III and Sse8387. (I. Y. Nagano et al. (1991) J Med Micro 35:297-303; S. Takahashi et al. (1998) J Inf Dis 177:1116-1119).

Over 90% of invasive type III GBS neonatal disease in Tokyo, Japan and in Salt Lake City, Utah is caused by bacteria from one of three RDP types, termed RDP type III-3, while RDP type III-2 are significantly more likely to be isolated from vagina than from blood or CSF. These results suggest that this genetically-related cluster of type III-3 GBS are more virulent than III-2 strains and could be responsible for the majority of invasive type III disease globally.

Preliminary vaccines for GBS used unconjugated purified polysaccaride. GBS poly- and oligosaccharides are poorly immunogenic and fail to elicit significant memory and booster responses. Baker et al immunized 40 pregnant women with purified serotype III capsular polysaccharide (Baker, C. J. et al. (1998) New Engl J of Med 319:1180-1185). Overall, only 57% of women with low levels of specific antibody responded to the vaccine. The poor immunogenicity of purified polysaccharide antigen was further demonstrated in a study in which thirty adult volunteers were immunized with a tetravalent vaccine composed of purified polysaccharide from serotypes Ia, Ib, II, and III (Kotloff, K. L. et al. (1996) Vaccine 14:446-450). Although safe, this vaccine was only modestly immunogenic, with only 13% of subjects responding to type Ib, 17% to type II, 33% responding to type Ia, and 70% responding to type III polysaccharide. The poor immunogenicity of polysaccharide antigens prompted efforts to develop polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, whereby these poly- or oligosaccharides are conjugated to protein carriers. Ninety percent of healthy adult women immunized with a type III polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine responded with a 4-fold rise in antibody concentration, compared to 50% immunized with plain polysaccharide (Kasper, D. L. et al (1996) J of Clin Invest 98:2308-2314). A type Ia/Ib polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine was similarly more immunogenic in healthy adults than plain polysaccharide (Baker, C. J. et al (1999) J Infect Dis 179:142-150).

The disadvantage of polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines is that the process of purifying and conjugating polysaccharides is difficult, time-consuming and expensive. A protein antigen which could be cheaply and easily produced would be an improvement.

If one were to make a polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine, a GBS-specific carrier protein may be preferable to one of the commonly used carriers such as tetanus or diphtheria toxoids because of the potential problems associated with some of these carrier proteins, particularly variable immunogenicity and the problems associated with repeated vaccination with the same carrier protein. Selection of appropriate carrier proteins is important for the development of polysaccharide-protein vaccine formulations. For example, Haemophilus influenzae type b poly- or oligosaccharide conjugated to different protein carriers has variable immunogenicity and elicits antibody with varying avidity (Decker, M. D. et al (1992) J Pediatrics 120:184-189; Schlesinger, Y. (1992) JAMA 267:1489-1494). Repeated immunization with the same carrier protein may also suppress immune responses by competition for specific B cells (epitopic suppression) or other mechanisms. This is of particular concern for the development of GBS vaccines since recently developed poly/oligosaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines against the bacteria H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis all utilize a restricted number of carrier proteins (tetanus toxoid, CRM197, diphtheria toxoid), increasing the number of exposures to these carriers an individual is likely to receive. Additionally, using tetanus as a carrier protein offers no specific advantage beyond the improved immunogenicity of the vaccine. A second-generation vaccine containing a GBS-specific carrier protein would enhance immunogenicity and have an advantage in that a GBS-specific immune response would be generated against both the carrier protein and the poly/oligosaccharide.

Therefore, in view of the aforementioned deficiencies attendant with prior art vaccines and methods, it should be apparent that there still exists a need in the art for an effective and immunogenic GBS vaccine. The availability and use of a GBS polypeptide in a conjugate vaccine is desirable. A GBS polypeptide which is present or expressed in all GBS serotypes would have the added advantage of providing broad, general immunity across many GBS serotypes. It would be particularly relevant and useful to provide a streptococcal vaccine or immunogen which is expressed broadly in various streptococcal species, whereby broad or general immunity against multiple and unique groups of streptococci (for instance, Group A, Group B and S. pneumoniae), particularly against distinct virulent and clinically relevant streptococcal bacteria, could thereby be generated.

The citation of references herein shall not be construed as an admission that such is prior art to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, streptococcal polypeptides termed extracellular matrix adhesins (Ema) are provided which are particularly useful in the identification and prevention of infections by streptococci.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention encompasses isolated polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence of a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The isolated peptides, including combinations of one or more thereof, are suitable for use in immunizing animals and humans against bacterial infection, particularly streptococci.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaA polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaB polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 4, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaC polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 6, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaD polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 8, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaE polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 10, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention also provides Ema polypeptide homologs from distinct bacterial species, particularly including distinct streptococcal species, more particularly including Group B streptococcus, Group A streptococcus (particularly S. pyogenes) and S. pneumoniae. The present invention also provides Ema polypeptides from additional distinct bacterial species, particularly including Enterococcus faecalis and Corynebacterium diptheriae. Nucleic acids encoding Ema polypeptide homologs from distinct bacterial species are also provided.

The present invention thus provides an isolated streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:23. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes the streptococcal polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO:23 is further provided.

The invention thus further provides an isolated streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:26. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes the streptococcal polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO:26 is further provided.

The present invention further provides an isolated streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:37. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes the streptococcal polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO:37 is further provided.

An enterococcal Ema polypeptide is further provided comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:29. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes the enterococcal polypeptide set out in SEQ ED NO:29 is also provided.

The invention provides an isolated Corynebacterium Ema polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 32. Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid which encodes the Corynebacterium polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO: 32.

The invention provides an isolated bacterial polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLLTCTPYMINS/THRLLVR/KG (SEQ ID NO: 34), wherein the polypeptide is not isolated from Actinomyces.

The invention further provides an isolated streptococcal polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLLTCTPYMINS/THRLLVR/KG (SEQ ID NO: 34).

Also provided is an isolated bacterial polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLVTCTPYGINTHRLLVTA (SEQ ID NO: 35).

The present invention includes an isolated bacterial polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLVTCTPYGVNTKRLLVRG (SEQ ID NO: 36). An isolated streptococcal polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLVTCTPYGVNTKRLLVRG (SEQ ID NO: 36) is also provided.

The invention further includes an isolated polypeptide having the amino acid sequence selected from the group of TLLTCTPYMINS/THRLLVR/KG (SEQ ID NO: 34), TLVTCTPYGINTHRLLVTA (SEQ ID NO: 35), and TLVTCTPYGVNTKRLLVRG (SEQ ID NO: 36).

The present invention contemplates the use of the polypeptides of the present invention in diagnostic tests and methods for determining and/or monitoring of streptococcal infection. Thus, the present invention provides an isolated Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, labeled with a detectable label.

In the instance where a radioactive label, such as the isotopes ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, ³⁶Cl, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵⁸Co, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁹⁰Y, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, and ¹⁸⁶Re are used, known currently available counting procedures may be utilized. In the instance where the label is an enzyme, detection may be accomplished by any of the presently utilized calorimetric, spectrophotometric, fluorospectrophotometric, amperometric or gasometric techniques known in the art.

The present invention extends to an immunogenic Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, or a fragment thereof. The present invention also extends to immunogenic Ema polypeptides wherein such polypeptides comprise a combination of at least one immunogenic Ema polypeptide, selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, or immunogenic polypeptide fragment thereof, and a GBS polypeptide selected from the group of Spb1, Spb2, C protein alpha antigen, Rib, Lmb, C5a-ase, or immunogenic fragments thereof.

In a further aspect, the present invention extends to vaccines based on the Ema proteins described herein. The present invention provides a vaccine comprising one or more streptococcal polypeptides selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. The present invention provides a vaccine comprising one or more streptococcal polypeptides selected from the group of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 23, 26, and 37, and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.

The present invention further provides a streptococcal vaccine comprising one or more Group B streptococcal polypeptides selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, further comprising one or more additional streptococcal antigens. The present invention further provides a GBS vaccine comprising one or more Group B streptococcal polypeptides selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, further comprising one or more additional GBS antigens. In a particular embodiment, the GBS antigen is selected from the group of the polypeptide Spb1 or an immunogenic fragment thereof, the polypeptide Spb2 or an immunogenic fragment thereof, C protein alpha antigen or an immunogenic fragment thereof, Rib or an immunogenic fragment thereof Lmb or an immunogenic fragment thereof, C5a-ase or an immunogenic fragment thereof and Group B streptococcal polysaccharides or oligosaccharides.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a vaccine for protection of an animal subject from infection with streptococci comprising an immunogenic amount of one or more Ema polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE, or a derivative or fragment thereof Such a vaccine may contain the protein conjugated covalently to a GBS bacterial polysaccharide or oligosaccharide or polysaccharide or oligosaccharide from one or more GBS serotypes.

In a still further aspect, the present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising one of more streptococcal polypeptides selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.

The present invention further provides an immunogenic composition comprising one or more Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, further comprising one or more antigens selected from the group of the polypeptide Spb1 or an immunogenic fragment thereof, the polypeptide Spb2 or an immunogenic fragment thereof, C protein alpha antigen or an immunogenic fragment thereof, Rib or an immunogenic fragment thereof Lmb or an immunogenic fragment thereof, C5a-ase or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and Group B streptococcal polysaccharides or oligosaccharides.

The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods of use thereof.

The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a bacterial Ema polypeptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:23, the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 26, the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:37, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more GBS Ema polypeptide, or a fragment thereof, in combination with one or more of GBS polypeptide Spb1, Spb2, C protein alpha antigen, Rib, Lmb, C5a-ase, a Group B streptococcal polysaccharide or oligosaccharide vaccine, and an anti-streptococcal vaccine.

In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a purified antibody to a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a purified antibody to a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:23, the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 26, and the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:37.

Antibodies against the isolated polypeptides of the present invention include naturally raised and recombinantly prepared antibodies. These may include both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies prepared by known genetic techniques, as well as bi-specific (chimeric) antibodies, and antibodies including other functionalities suiting them for diagnostic use. Such antibodies can be used in immunoassays to diagnose infection with a particular strain or species of bacteria. The antibodies can also be used for passive immunization to treat an infection with streptococcal bacteria including Group B streptococcus, Group A streptococcus, and S. pneumoniae. These antibodies may also be suitable for modulating bacterial adherence and/or invasion including but not limited to acting as competitive agents.

The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody to a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The invention thereby extends to an immortal cell line that produces a monoclonal antibody to a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE.

An antibody to a streptococcal Ema polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE labeled with a detectable label is further provided. In particular embodiments, the label may selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a chemical which fluoresces, and a radioactive element.

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more antibodies to a streptococcal protein selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of at least two antibodies to Group B streptococcal proteins and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein at least one antibody to a protein selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD, and EmaE is combined with at least one antibody to a protein selected from the group of Spb1, Spb2, Rib, Lmb, C5a-ase and a C protein alpha antigen.

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acids, such as recombinant DNA molecules or cloned genes, or degenerate variants thereof, mutants, analogs, or fragments thereof, which encode the isolated polypeptide of the present invention or which competitively inhibit the activity of the polypeptide. The present invention further relates to isolated nucleic acids, such as recombinant DNA molecules or cloned genes, or degenerate variants thereof, mutants, analogs, or fragments thereof, which encode a bacterial Ema polypeptide. The present invention further relates to isolated nucleic acids, such as recombinant DNA molecules or cloned genes, or degenerate variants thereof, mutants, analogs, or fragments thereof, which encode a streptococcal Ema polypeptide. The present invention further relates to isolated nucleic acids, such as recombinant DNA molecules or cloned genes, or degenerate variants thereof, mutants, analogs, or fragments thereof, which encode a streptococcal Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. Preferably, the isolated nucleic acid, which includes degenerates, variants, mutants, analogs, or fragments thereof, has a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9. In a further embodiment of the invention, the DNA sequence of the recombinant DNA molecule or cloned gene may be operatively linked to an expression control sequence which may be introduced into an appropriate host. The invention accordingly extends to unicellular hosts transformed with the cloned gene or recombinant DNA molecule comprising a DNA sequence encoding an Ema protein, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and more particularly, the DNA sequences or fragments thereof determined from the sequences set forth above.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaA polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:1; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:1 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:1 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:1 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof; alleles thereof; and hybridizable fragments thereof In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaA polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:1; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:1; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:1. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:1.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaB polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:3; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:3 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:3 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:3 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof; alleles thereof; and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaB polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:3; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:3; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:3. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:3.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaC polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:5; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:5 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:5 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:5 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof; alleles thereof; and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaC polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:5; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:5; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:5. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:5.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaD polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:7; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:7 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:7 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:7 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof; alleles thereof; and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaD polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:7; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:7; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:7. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:7.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaE polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:9; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:9 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:9 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:9 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof, alleles thereof; and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaE polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:9; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:9; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:9 In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:9.

In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the bacterial Ema polypeptide comprises the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO: 24, 27, 30 and 33. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the bacterial Ema polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO: 24, 27, 30 and 33.

A nucleic acid capable of encoding a streptococcal polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE which is a recombinant DNA molecule is further provided. Such a recombinant DNA molecule wherein the DNA molecule is operatively linked to an expression control sequence is also provided herein.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid vaccines or DNA vaccines comprising nucleic acids encoding immunogenic streptococcal Ema polypeptides, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The present invention relates to nucleic acid vaccines or DNA vaccines comprising nucleic acids encoding one or more immunogenic Ema polypeptide or a fragment thereof or any combination of one or more Ema polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE with at least one other polypeptide, particularly a GBS polypeptide, more particularly wherein said other GBS polypeptide is selected from the group of Spb1, Spb2, C protein alpha antigen, Rib, Lmb, C5a-ase, and immunogenic polypeptide fragments thereof.

The invention further relates to a vaccine for protection of an animal subject from infection with a streptococcal bacterium comprising a vector containing a gene encoding an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE operatively associated with a promoter capable of directing expression of the gene in the subject. The present invention further provides a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a recombinant DNA molecule capable of encoding a GBS polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE.

The invention further relates to a vaccine for protection of an animal subject from infection with a Group B streptococcal bacterium comprising a vector containing a gene encoding an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE operatively associated with a promoter capable of directing expression of the gene in the subject. The present invention further provides a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a recombinant DNA molecule capable of encoding a GBS polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE.

The present invention provides a vector which comprises the nucleic acid capable of encoding an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE and a promoter. The present invention provides a vector which comprises the nucleic acid of any of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 and a promoter. The invention contemplates a vector wherein the promoter comprises a bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian promoter. The invention contemplates a vector wherein the vector is a plasmid, cosmid, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), bacteriophage or eukaryotic viral DNA.

The present invention further provides a host vector system for the production of a polypeptide which comprises the vector capable of encoding an Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE in a suitable host cell. A host vector system is provided wherein the suitable host cell comprises a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. A unicellular host transformed with a recombinant DNA molecule or vector capable of encoding an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE is thereby provided.

The present invention includes methods for determining and monitoring infection by streptococci by detecting the presence of a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. In a particular such method, the streptococcal Ema polypeptide is measured by:

-   -   a. contacting a sample in which the presence or activity of a         Streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB,         EmaC, EmaD and EmaE is suspected with an antibody to the said         streptococcal polypeptide under conditions that allow binding of         the streptococcal polypeptide to the antibody to occur; and     -   b. detecting whether binding has occurred between the         streptococcal polypeptide from the sample and the antibody;         wherein the detection of binding indicates the presence or         activity of the streptococcal polypeptide in the sample.

The present invention includes methods for determining and monitoring infection by streptococci by detecting the presence of a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. In a particular such method, the streptococcal Ema polypeptide is measured by:

-   -   a. contacting a sample in which the presence or activity of a         Streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB,         EmaC, EmaD and EmaE is suspected with an antibody to the said         streptococcal polypeptide under conditions that allow binding of         the streptococcal polypeptide to the antibody to occur; and     -   b. detecting whether binding has occurred between the         streptococcal polypeptide from the sample and the antibody;         wherein the detection of binding indicates the presence or         activity of the streptococcal polypeptide in the sample.

The present invention includes methods for determining and monitoring infection by Group B streptococci by detecting the presence of a Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. In a particular such method, the streptococcal Ema polypeptide is measured by:

-   -   a. contacting a sample in which the presence or activity of a         Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of         EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE is suspected with an antibody to         the said Group B streptococcal polypeptide under conditions that         allow binding of the Group B streptococcal polypeptide to the         antibody to occur; and     -   b. detecting whether binding has occurred between the Group B         streptococcal polypeptide from the sample and the antibody;         wherein the detection of binding indicates the presence or         activity of the Group B streptococcal polypeptide in the sample.

The present invention further provides a method for detecting the presence of a bacterium having a gene encoding a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of emaA, emaB, emaC, emaD and emaE, comprising:

-   -   a. contacting a sample in which the presence or activity of the         bacterium is suspected with an oligonucleotide which hybridizes         to a streptococcal polypeptide gene selected from the group of         emaA, emaB, emaC, emaD and emaE, under conditions that allow         specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide to the gene to         occur; and     -   b. detecting whether hybridization has occurred between the         oligonucleotide and the gene;         wherein the detection of hybridization indicates that presence         or activity of the bacterium in the sample.

The invention includes an assay system for screening of potential compounds effective to modulate the activity of a streptococcal protein EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE of the present invention. In one instance, the test compound, or an extract containing the compound, could be administered to a cellular sample expressing the particular Ema protein to determine the compound's effect upon the activity of the protein by comparison with a control. In a further instance the test compound, or an extract containing the compound, could be administered to a cellular sample expressing the Ema protein to determine the compound's effect upon the activity of the protein, and thereby on adherence of said cellular sample to host cells, by comparison with a control.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the prevention or treatment of mammals to control the amount or activity of streptococci, so as to treat or prevent the adverse consequences of invasive, spontaneous, or idiopathic pathological states.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the prevention or treatment of mammals to control the amount or activity of Group B streptococci, so as to treat or prevent the adverse consequences of invasive, spontaneous, or idiopathic pathological states.

The invention provides a method for preventing infection with a bacterium that expresses a streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising administering an immunogenically effective dose of a vaccine comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE to a subject.

The invention further provides a method for preventing infection with a bacterium that expresses a Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising administering an immunogenically effective dose of a vaccine comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE to a subject.

The present invention is directed to a method for treating infection with a bacterium that expresses a streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a subject.

The invention further provides a method for treating infection with a bacterium that expresses a streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody to an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a subject.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of inducing an immune response in a subject which has been exposed to or infected with a streptococcal bacterium comprising administering to the subject an amount of the pharmaceutical composition comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, thereby inducing an immune response.

The invention still further provides a method for preventing infection by a streptococcal bacterium in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody to an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, thereby preventing infection by a streptococcal bacterium.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of inducing an immune response in a subject which has been exposed to or infected with a Group B streptococcal bacterium comprising administering to the subject an amount of the pharmaceutical composition comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, thereby inducing an immune response.

The invention still further provides a method for preventing infection by a Group B streptococcal bacterium in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody to an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, thereby preventing infection by a streptococcal bacterium.

The invention further provides an ema mutant bacteria which is non-adherent and/or non-invasive to cells, particularly which is mutated in one or more genes selected from the group of emaA, emaB, emaC, emaD and emaE. Particularly, such ema mutant is a streptococcal bacteria. More particularly, such ema mutant is a Group B streptococcal bacteria. Such non-adherent and/or non-invasive ema mutant bacteria can further be utilized in expressing other immunogenic or therapeutic proteins for the purposes of eliciting immune responses to any such other proteins in the context of vaccines and in other forms of therapy.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following description which proceeds with reference to the following illustrative drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the restriction digest pattern (RDP) type III-3 specific probes. Dot blot hybridization of probe DY1-1 with genomic DNA isolated from type III GBS. 10 ug of genomic DNA from each of 62 type III GBS strains was transferred to nylon membrane. Radiolabeled probe DY1-1 hybridized with DNA from all III-3 strains (rows A-D) including the original type III-3 strain (well E-1). The probe failed to hybridize with DNA from III-2 strains (F1-F10, G1-7) including the original strain used in the subtraction hybridization (well E 10) and III-1 strains (wells H1-3; cf. FIG. 3). The same pattern of hybridization was observed using probe DY1-11.

FIG. 2 depicts the nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:1) and predicted amino acid (SEQ ID NO:2) sequence of emaA.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict the nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:3) and predicted amino acid (SEQ ID NO:4) sequence of emaB.

FIG. 4 depicts the nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:5) and predicted amino acid (SEQ ID NO:6) sequence of emaC.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict the nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:7) and predicted amino acid (SEQ ID NO:8) sequence of emaD.

FIGS. 6 A-D depict the nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:9) and predicted amino acid (SEQ ID NO:10) sequence of emaE.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides novel Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptides and their Ema homologs in distinct bacterial species, including distinct streptococcal species. The present invention relates to novel streptococcal Ema polypeptides, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and fragments thereof. Nucleic acids encoding Ema polypeptides, and diagnostic and therapeutic compositions and methods based thereon for identification and prevention of infections by virulent forms of streptococci are provided. In particular, the present invention includes Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptides. The invention further includes polypeptide homologs of the GBS Ema polypeptides, particularly streptococcal homologs, more particularly Ema homologs of S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes. Bacterial Ema polypeptide homologs in E. faecalis and C. diptheriae are also provided.

Polypeptides

The present invention is directed to an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a bacterial Ema polypeptide. Bacterial Ema polypeptides are provided from streptococcus, enterococcus and corynebacterium. The present invention is particularly directed to an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a streptococcal Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The present invention is particularly directed to an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a Group streptococcal Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. Additional S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes Ema polypeptides are included in the invention. E. faecalis and C. diptheriae Ema polypeptides are also included in the invention.

The polypeptides of the present invention are suitable for use in immunizing animals broadly against streptococcal infection. The polypeptides of the present invention are suitable for use in immunizing animals broadly against Group B, Group A, and S. pneumoniae streptococcal infection. The polypeptides of the present invention are suitable for use in immunizing animals against Group B streptococci. These polypeptide or peptide fragments thereof, when formulated with an appropriate adjuvant, are used in vaccines for protection against streptococci, particularly Group B streptococci, and against other bacteria with cross-reactive proteins.

GBS proteins with streptococcal homologs outside of Group B have been previously identified (Lachenauer C S and Madoff L C (1997) Adv Exp Med Biol. 418:615-8; Brady L. J. et al (1991) Infect Immun 59(12):4425-35; Stahlhammer-Carlemalm M. et al (2000) J Infect Dis 182(1):142-129). Stahlhammer-Carlemalm et al have demonstrated cross-protection between Group A and Group B streptococci due to cross-reacting surface proteins (Stahlhammer-Carlemalm M. et al (2000) J Infect Dis 182(1):142-129). The R28 protein of group A streptococcus (GAS) and the Rib protein of group B streptococcus (GBS) are surface molecules that elicit protective immunity to experimental infection. These proteins are members of the same family and cross-react immunologically. In spite of extensive amino acid residue identity, the cross-reactivity between R28 and Rib was found to be limited, as shown by analysis with highly purified proteins and specific antisera. Nevertheless, immunization of mice with purified R28 conferred protection against lethal infection with Rib-expressing GBS strains, and immunization with Rib conferred protection against R28-expressing GAS. Thus, R28 and Rib elicited cross-protective immunity.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaA polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaB polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 4, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaC polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 6, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention is directed to an isolated streptococcal EmaD polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 8, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The identity or location of one or more amino acid residues may be changed or modified to include variants such as, for example, deletions containing less than all of the residues specified for the protein, substitutions wherein one or more residues specified are replaced by other residues and additions wherein one or more amino acid residues are added to a terminal or medial portion of the polypeptide. These molecules include: the incorporation of codons “preferred” for expression by selected non-mammalian hosts; the provision of sites for cleavage by restriction endonuclease enzymes; and the provision of additional initial, terminal or intermediate DNA sequences that facilitate construction of readily expressed vectors.

The present invention is directed to an isolated Group B streptococcal EmaE polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 10, and analogs, variants and immunogenic fragments thereof.

The present invention thus provides an isolated streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:23. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes the streptococcal polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO:23 is further provided.

The invention thus further provides an isolated streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:26. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes the streptococcal polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO:26 is further provided.

The present invention further provides an isolated streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:37. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes the streptococcal polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO:37 is further provided.

An enterococcal Ema polypeptide is further provided comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:29. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes the enterococcal polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO:29 is also provided.

The invention provides an isolated Corynebacterium Ema polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 32. Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid which encodes the Corynebacterium polypeptide set out in SEQ ID NO: 32.

The invention provides an isolated bacterial polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLLTCTPYMINS/THRLLVR/KG (SEQ ID NO: 34), wherein the polypeptide is not isolated from Actinomyces.

The invention further provides an isolated streptococcal polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLLTCTPYMINS/THRLLVR/KG (SEQ ID NO: 34).

Also provided is an isolated bacterial polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLVTCTPYGINTHRLLVTA (SEQ ID NO: 35).

The present invention includes an isolated bacterial polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLVTCTPYGVNTKRLLVRG (SEQ ID NO: 36). An isolated streptococcal polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence TLVTCTPYGVNTKRLLVRG (SEQ ID NO: 36) is also provided.

The invention further includes an isolated polypeptide having the amino acid sequence selected from the group of TLLTCTPYMINS/THRLLVR/KG (SEQ ID NO: 34), TLVTCTPYGINTHRLLVTA (SEQ ID NO: 35), and TLVTCTPYGVNTKRLLVRG (SEQ ID NO: 36).

The present invention contemplates the use of the streptococcal polypeptides of the present invention in diagnostic tests and methods for determining and/or monitoring of streptococcal infection. Thus, the present invention provides an isolated GBS Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, labeled with a detectable label.

In the instance where a radioactive label, such as the isotopes ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, ³⁶Cl, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵⁸Co, ⁵Fe, ⁹⁰Y, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, and ¹⁸⁶Re are used, known currently available counting procedures may be utilized. In the instance where the label is an enzyme, detection may be accomplished by any of the presently utilized calorimetric, spectrophotometric, fluorospectrophotometric, amperometric or gasometric techniques known in the art.

The present invention extends to an immunogenic bacterial Ema polypeptide. The present invention extends to an immunogenic streptococcal Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, or a fragment thereof. The present invention also extends to immunogenic GBS Ema polypeptides wherein such polypeptides comprise a combination of at least one immunogenic GBS Ema polypeptide, selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, or immunogenic polypeptide fragment thereof and GBS polypeptide Spb1, Spb2, C protein alpha antigen, Rib or immunogenic fragments thereof.

As defined herein, “adhesion” means noncovalent binding of a bacteria to a human cell or secretion that is stable enough to withstand washing.

The term “extracellular matrix adhesin”, “Ema”, “ema” and any variants not specifically listed, may be used herein interchangeably, and as used throughout the present application and claims refer to proteinaceous material including single or multiple proteins, and extends to those proteins having the amino acid sequence data described herein and particularly identified by (SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 23, 26, 29, 32 and 37), and the profile of activities set forth herein and in the Claims. In particular the Ema proteins provided herein include EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The Ema proteins include bacterial Ema homologs. Bacterial Ema homologs include those from streptococcal species and other bacterial species. Accordingly, proteins and polypeptides displaying substantially equivalent or altered activity are likewise contemplated. These modifications may be deliberate, for example, such as modifications obtained through site-directed mutagenesis, or may be accidental, such as those obtained through mutations in hosts that are producers of one or more Ema polypeptide. Also, the term “extracellular matrix adhesin (Ema)” is intended to include within its scope proteins specifically recited herein as well as all substantially homologous analogs and allelic variations.

This invention provides an isolated immunogenic polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a bacterial Ema polypeptide. This invention provides an isolated immunogenic polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a streptococcal Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. It is contemplated by this invention that the immunogenic polypeptide has the amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 23, 26, 29, 32 and 37, including immunogenic fragments, mutants, variants, analogs, or derivatives, thereof.

This invention is directed to analogs of the polypeptide which comprise the amino acid sequence as set forth above. The analog polypeptide may have an N-terminal methionine or a polyhistidine optionally attached to the N or COOH terminus of the polypeptide which comprise the amino acid sequence.

In another embodiment, this invention contemplates peptide fragments of the polypeptide which result from proteolytic digestion products of the polypeptide. In another embodiment, the derivative of the polypeptide has one or more chemical moieties attached thereto. In another embodiment the chemical moiety is a water soluble polymer. In another embodiment the chemical moiety is polyethylene glycol. In another embodiment the chemical moiety is mon-, di-, tri- or tetrapegylated. In another embodiment the chemical moiety is N-terminal monopegylated.

Attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to compounds is particularly useful because PEG has very low toxicity in mammals (Carpenter et al., 1971). For example, a PEG adduct of adenosine deaminase was approved in the United States for use in humans for the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome. A second advantage afforded by the conjugation of PEG is that of effectively reducing the immunogenicity and antigenicity of heterologous compounds. For example, a PEG adduct of a human protein might be useful for the treatment of disease in other mammalian species without the risk of triggering a severe immune response. The compound of the present invention may be delivered in a microencapsulation device so as to reduce or prevent an host immune response against the compound or against cells which may produce the compound. The compound of the present invention may also be delivered microencapsulated in a membrane, such as a liposome.

Numerous activated forms of PEG suitable for direct reaction with proteins have been described. Useful PEG reagents for reaction with protein amino groups include active esters of carboxylic acid or carbonate derivatives, particularly those in which the leaving groups are N-hydroxysuccinimide, p-nitrophenol, imidazole or 1-hydroxy-2-nitrobenzene-4-sulfonate. PEG derivatives containing maleimido or haloacetyl groups are useful reagents for the modification of protein free sulfhydryl groups. Likewise, PEG reagents containing amino hydrazine or hydrazide groups are useful for reaction with aldehydes generated by periodate oxidation of carbohydrate groups in proteins.

In one embodiment, the amino acid residues of the polypeptide described herein are preferred to be in the “L” isomeric form. In another embodiment, the residues in the “D” isomeric form can be substituted for any L-amino acid residue, as long as the desired functional property of lectin activity is retained by the polypeptide. NH₂ refers to the free amino group present at the amino terminus of a polypeptide. COOH refers to the free carboxy group present at the carboxy terminus of a polypeptide. Abbreviations used herein are in keeping with standard polypeptide nomenclature, J. Biol. Chem., 243:3552-59 (1969).

It should be noted that all amino-acid residue sequences are represented herein by formulae whose left and right orientation is in the conventional direction of amino-terminus to carboxy-terminus. Furthermore, it should be noted that a dash at the beginning or end of an amino acid residue sequence indicates a peptide bond to a further sequence of one or more amino-acid residues.

Synthetic polypeptide, prepared using the well known techniques of solid phase, liquid phase, or peptide condensation techniques, or any combination thereof, can include natural and unnatural amino acids. Amino acids used for peptide synthesis may be standard Boc (N^(α)-amino protected N^(α)-t-butyloxycarbonyl) amino acid resin with the standard deprotecting, neutralization, coupling and wash protocols of the original solid phase procedure of Merrifield (1963, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-2154), or the base-labile N^(α)-amino protected 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) amino acids first described by Carpino and Han (1972, J. Org. Chem. 37:3403-3409). Thus, polypeptide of the invention may comprise D-amino acids, a combination of D- and L-amino acids, and various “designer” amino acids (e.g., β-methyl amino acids, Cα-methyl amino acids, and Nα-methyl amino acids, etc.) to convey special properties. Synthetic amino acids include ornithine for lysine, fluorophenylalanine for phenylalanine, and norleucine for leucine or isoleucine. Additionally, by assigning specific amino acids at specific coupling steps, α-helices, β turns, β sheets, γ-turns, and cyclic peptides can be generated.

In one aspect of the invention, the peptides may comprise a special amino acid at the C-terminus which incorporates either a CO₂H or CONH₂ side chain to simulate a free glycine or a glycine-amide group. Another way to consider this special residue would be as a D or L amino acid analog with a side chain consisting of the linker or bond to the bead. In one embodiment, the pseudo-free C-terminal residue may be of the D or the L optical configuration; in another embodiment, a racemic mixture of D and L-isomers may be used.

In an additional embodiment, pyroglutamate may be included as the N-terminal residue of the peptide. Although pyroglutamate is not amenable to sequence by Edman degradation, by limiting substitution to only 50% of the peptides on a given bead with N-terminal pyroglutamate, there will remain enough non-pyroglutamate peptide on the bead for sequencing. One of ordinary skill would readily recognize that this technique could be used for sequencing of any peptide that incorporates a residue resistant to Edman degradation at the N-terminus. Other methods to characterize individual peptides that demonstrate desired activity are described in detail infra. Specific activity of a peptide that comprises a blocked N-terminal group, e.g., pyroglutamate, when the particular N-terminal group is present in 50% of the peptides, would readily be demonstrated by comparing activity of a completely (100%) blocked peptide with a non-blocked (0%) peptide.

In addition, the present invention envisions preparing peptides that have more well defined structural properties, and the use of peptidomimetics, and peptidomimetic bonds, such as ester bonds, to prepare peptides with novel properties. In another embodiment, a peptide may be generated that incorporates a reduced peptide bond, i.e., R₁—CH₂—NH—R₂, where R₁ and R₂ are amino acid residues or sequences. A reduced peptide bond may be introduced as a dipeptide subunit. Such a molecule would be resistant to peptide bond hydrolysis, e.g., protease activity. Such peptides would provide ligands with unique function and activity, such as extended half-lives in vivo due to resistance to metabolic breakdown, or protease activity. Furthermore, it is well known that in certain systems constrained peptides show enhanced functional activity (Hruby, 1982, Life Sciences 31:189-199; Hruby et al., 1990, Biochem J. 268:249-262); the present invention provides a method to produce a constrained peptide that incorporates random sequences at all other positions.

A constrained, cyclic or rigidized peptide may be prepared synthetically, provided that in at least two positions in the sequence of the peptide an amino acid or amino acid analog is inserted that provides a chemical functional group capable of cross-linking to constrain, cyclise or rigidize the peptide after treatment to form the cross-link. Cyclization will be favored when a turn-inducing amino acid is incorporated. Examples of amino acids capable of cross-linking a peptide are cysteine to form disulfide, aspartic acid to form a lactone or a lactase, and a chelator such as γ-carboxyl-glutamic acid (Gla) (Bachem) to chelate a transition metal and form a cross-link. Protected γ-carboxyl glutamic acid may be prepared by modifying the synthesis described by Zee-Cheng and Olson (1980, Biophys. Biochem. Res. Commun. 94:1128-1132). A peptide in which the peptide sequence comprises at least two amino acids capable of cross-linking may be treated, e.g., by oxidation of cysteine residues to form a disulfide or addition of a metal ion to form a chelate, so as to cross-link the peptide and form a constrained, cyclic or rigidized peptide.

The present invention provides strategies to systematically prepare cross-links. For example, if four cysteine residues are incorporated in the peptide sequence, different protecting groups may be used (Hiskey, 1981, in The Peptides: Analysis, Synthesis, Biology, Vol. 3, Gross and Meienhofer, eds., Academic Press: New York, pp. 137-167; Ponsanti et al., 1990, Tetrahedron 46:8255-8266). The first pair of cysteine may be deprotected and oxidized, then the second set may be deprotected and oxidized. In this way a defined set of disulfide cross-links may be formed. Alternatively, a pair of cysteine and a pair of collating amino acid analogs may be incorporated so that the cross-links are of a different chemical nature.

The following non-classical amino acids may be incorporated in the peptide in order to introduce particular conformational motifs: 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylate (Kazmierski et al., 1991, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113:2275-2283); (2S,3S)-methyl-phenylalanine, (2S,3R)-methyl-phenylalanine, (2R,3S)-methyl-phenylalanine and (2R,3R)-methyl-phenylalanine (Kazmierski and Hruby, 1991, Tetrahedron Lett.); 2-aminotetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid (Landis, 1989, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Arizona); hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylate (Miyake et al., 1989, J. Takeda Res. Labs. 43:53-76); β-carboline (D and L) (Kazmierski, 1988, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Arizona); HIC (histidine isoquinoline carboxylic acid) (Zechel et al., 1991, Int. J. Pep. Protein Res. 43); and HIC (histidine cyclic urea) (Dharanipragada).

The following amino acid analogs and peptidomimetics may be incorporated into a peptide to induce or favor specific secondary structures: LL-Acp (LL-3-amino-2-propenidone-6-carboxylic acid), a β-turn inducing dipeptide analog (Kemp et al., 1985, J. Org. Chem. 50:5834-5838); β-sheet inducing analogs (Kemp et al., 1988, Tetrahedron Lett. 29:5081-5082); β-turn inducing analogs (Kemp et al., 1988, Tetrahedron Lett. 29:5057-5060); ∝-helix inducing analogs (Kemp et al., 1988, Tetrahedron Lett. 29:4935-4938); γ-turn inducing analogs (Kemp et al., 1989, J. Org. Chem. 54:109:115); and analogs provided by the following references: Nagai and Sato, 1985, Tetrahedron Lett. 26:647-650; DiMaio et al., 1989, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. p. 1687; also a Gly-Ala turn analog (Kahn et al., 1989, Tetrahedron Lett. 30:2317); amide bond isostere (Jones et al., 1988, Tetrahedron Lett. 29:3853-3856); tetrazol (Zabrocki et al., 1988, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110:5875-5880); DTC (Samanen et al., 1990, Int. J. Protein Pep. Res. 35:501:509); and analogs taught in Olson et al., 1990, J. Am. Chem. Sci. 112:323-333 and Garvey et al., 1990, J. Org. Chem. 56:436. Conformationally restricted mimetics of beta turns and beta bulges, and peptides containing them, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,013, issued Aug. 8, 1995 to Kahn.

The present invention further provides for modification or derivatization of the polypeptide or peptide of the invention. Modifications of peptides are well known to one of ordinary skill, and include phosphorylation, carboxymethylation, and acylation. Modifications may be effected by chemical or enzymatic means. In another aspect, glycosylated or fatty acylated peptide derivatives may be prepared. Preparation of glycosylated or fatty acylated peptides is well known in the art. Fatty acyl peptide derivatives may also be prepared. For example, and not by way of limitation, a free amino group (N-terminal or lysyl) may be acylated, e.g., myristoylated. In another embodiment an amino acid comprising an aliphatic side chain of the structure —(CH₂)_(n)CH₃ may be incorporated in the peptide. This and other peptide-fatty acid conjugates suitable for use in the present invention are disclosed in U.K. Patent GB-8809162.4, International Patent Application PCT/AU89/00166, and reference 5, supra.

Chemical Moieties For Derivatization. Chemical moieties suitable for derivatization may be selected from among water soluble polymers. The polymer selected should be water soluble so that the component to which it is attached does not precipitate in an aqueous environment, such as a physiological environment. Preferably, for therapeutic use of the end-product preparation, the polymer will be pharmaceutically acceptable. One skilled in the art will be able to select the desired polymer based on such considerations as whether the polymer/component conjugate will be used therapeutically, and if so, the desired dosage, circulation time, resistance to proteolysis, and other considerations. For the present component or components, these may be ascertained using the assays provided herein.

The water soluble polymer may be selected from the group consisting of, for example, polyethylene glycol, copolymers of ethylene glycol/propylene glycol, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly-1,3-dioxolane, poly-1,3,6-trioxane, ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer, polyaminoacids (either homopolymers or random copolymers), and dextran or poly(n-vinyl pyrrolidone)polyethylene glycol, propropylene glycol homopolymers, polypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymers, polyoxyethylated polyols and polyvinyl alcohol. Polyethylene glycol propionaldehyde may have advantages in manufacturing due to its stability in water.

The polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branched or unbranched. For polyethylene glycol, the preferred molecular weight is between about 2 kDa and about 100 kDa (the term “about” indicating that in preparations of polyethylene glycol, some molecules will weigh more, some less, than the stated molecular weight) for ease in handling and manufacturing. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desired therapeutic profile (e.g., the duration of sustained release desired, the effects, if any on biological activity, the ease in handling, the degree or lack of antigenicity and other known effects of the polyethylene glycol to a therapeutic protein or analog).

The number of polymer molecules so attached may vary, and one skilled in the art will be able to ascertain the effect on function. One may mono-derivative, or may provide for a di-, tri-, tetra- or some combination of derivatization, with the same or different chemical moieties (e.g., polymers, such as different weights of polyethylene glycols). The proportion of polymer molecules to component or components molecules will vary, as will their concentrations in the reaction mixture. In general, the optimum ratio (in terms of efficiency of reaction in that there is no excess unreacted component or components and polymer) will be determined by factors such as the desired degree of derivatization (e.g., mono, di-, tri-, etc.), the molecular weight of the polymer selected, whether the polymer is branched or unbranched, and the reaction conditions.

The polyethylene glycol molecules (or other chemical moieties) should be attached to the component or components with consideration of effects on functional or antigenic domains of the protein. There are a number of attachment methods available to those skilled in the art, e.g., EP 0 401 384 herein incorporated by reference (coupling PEG to G-CSF), see also Malik et al., 1992, Exp. Hematol. 20:1028-1035 (reporting pegylation of GM-CSF using tresyl chloride). For example, polyethylene glycol may be covalently bound through amino acid residues via a reactive group, such as, a free amino or carboxyl group. Reactive groups are those to which an activated polyethylene glycol molecule may be bound. The amino acid residues having a free amino group include lysine residues and the − terminal amino acid residues; those having a free carboxyl group include aspartic acid residues glutamic acid residues and the C-terminal amino acid residue. Sulfhydryl groups may also be used as a reactive group for attaching the polyethylene glycol molecule(s). Preferred for therapeutic purposes is attachment at an amino group, such as attachment at the N-terminus or lysine group.

Nucleic Acids

In accordance with the present invention there may be employed conventional molecular biology, microbiology, and recombinant DNA techniques within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, e.g., Sambrook et al, “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual” (1989); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” Volumes I-III [Ausubel, R. M., ed. (1994)]; “Cell Biology: A Laboratory Handbook” Volumes I-III [J. E. Celis, ed. (1994))]; “Current Protocols in Immunology” Volumes I-III [Coligan, J. E., ed. (1994)]; “Oligonucleotide Synthesis” (M. J. Gait ed. 1984); “Nucleic Acid Hybridization” [B. D. Hames & S. J. Higgins eds. (1985)]; “Transcription And Translation” [B. D. Hames & S. J. Higgins, eds. (1984)]; “Animal Cell Culture” [R. I. Freshney, ed. (1986)]; “Immobilized Cells And Enzymes” [IRL Press, (1986)]; B. Perbal, “A Practical Guide To Molecular Cloning” (1984).

Mutations can be made in a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of the present invention such that a particular codon is changed to a codon which codes for a different amino acid. Such a mutation is generally made by making the fewest nucleotide changes possible. A substitution mutation of this sort can be made to change an amino acid in the resulting protein in a non-conservative manner (i.e., by changing the codon from an amino acid belonging to a grouping of amino acids having a particular size or characteristic to an amino acid belonging to another grouping) or in a conservative manner (i.e., by changing the codon from an amino acid belonging to a grouping of amino acids having a particular size or characteristic to an amino acid belonging to the same grouping). Such a conservative change generally leads to less change in the structure and function of the resulting protein. A non-conservative change is more likely to alter the structure, activity or function of the resulting protein. The present invention should be considered to include sequences containing conservative changes which do not significantly alter the activity or binding characteristics of the resulting protein. Substitutes for an amino acid within the sequence may be selected from other members of the class to which the amino acid belongs. For example, the nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan and methionine. Amino acids containing aromatic ring structures are phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine. The polar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, and glutamine. The positively charged (basic) amino acids include arginine, lysine and histidine. The negatively charged (acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Such alterations will not be expected to affect apparent molecular weight as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or isoelectric point.

Particularly preferred substitutions are:

-   -   Lys for Arg and vice versa such that a positive charge may be         maintained;     -   Glu for Asp and vice versa such that a negative charge may be         maintained;     -   Ser for Thr such that a free —OH can be maintained; and     -   Gln for Asn such that a free NH₂ can be maintained.

Synthetic DNA sequences allow convenient construction of genes which will express analogs or “muteins”. A general method for site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins is described in Noren, et al. Science, 244:182-188 (April 1989). This method may be used to create analogs with unnatural amino acids.

This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a streptococcal Ema polypeptide. This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a streptococcal Ema polypeptide. This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a Group B streptococcal Ema protein selected from the group of Ema proteins EmaA, EmaB, EmaC. EmaD and EmaE as set forth in FIGS. 2-6. The invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a bacterial Ema polypeptide selected from the group of SEQ ID NO: 23, 26, 29, 32 and 37. In particular embodiments the nucleic acid is set forth in any of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 24, 27, 30, and 33, including fragments, mutants, variants, analogs, or derivatives, thereof. The nucleic acid is DNA, cDNA, genomic DNA, RNA. Further, the isolated nucleic acid may be operatively linked to a promoter of RNA transcription.

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acids, such as recombinant DNA molecules or cloned genes, or degenerate variants thereof, mutants, analogs, or fragments thereof, which encode the isolated polypeptide or which competitively inhibit the activity of the polypeptide. The present invention further relates to isolated nucleic acids, such as recombinant DNA molecules or cloned genes, or degenerate variants thereof, mutants, analogs, or fragments thereof, which encode a GBS Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. Preferably, the isolated nucleic acid, which includes degenerates, variants, mutants, analogs, or fragments thereof, has a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9. In a further embodiment of the invention, the DNA sequence of the recombinant DNA molecule or cloned gene may be operatively linked to an expression control sequence which may be introduced into an appropriate host. The invention accordingly extends to unicellular hosts transformed with the cloned gene or recombinant DNA molecule comprising a DNA sequence encoding an Ema protein, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and more particularly, the DNA sequences or fragments thereof determined from the sequences set forth above.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaA polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:1; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:1 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:1 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:1 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof, alleles thereof; and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaA polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:1; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:1; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:1. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:1.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaB polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:3; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:3 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:3 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:3 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof, alleles thereof, and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaB polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:3; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:3; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:3. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:3.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaC polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:5; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:5 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:5 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:5 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof, alleles thereof; and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaC polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:5; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:5; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:5. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:5.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaD polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:7; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:7 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:7 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:7 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof, alleles thereof, and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaD polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:7; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:7; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:7. In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:7.

In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaE polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:9; a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:9 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; DNA sequences capable of encoding the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:9 or a sequence that hybridizes to SEQ ID NO:9 under moderate stringency hybridization conditions; degenerate variants thereof; alleles thereof; and hybridizable fragments thereof. In a particular embodiment, the nucleic acid encoding the EmaE polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO:9; a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:9; or a homologous sequence which is substantially similar to SEQ ID NO:9 In a further embodiment, the nucleic acid has the sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:9.

A nucleic acid capable of encoding a GBS polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE which is a recombinant DNA molecule is further provided. Such a recombinant DNA molecule wherein the DNA molecule is operatively linked to an expression control sequence is also provided herein.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid vaccines or DNA vaccines comprising nucleic acids encoding immunogenic bacterial Ema polypeptides, particularly immunogenic streptococcal Ema polypeptides. The present invention relates to nucleic acid vaccines or DNA vaccines comprising nucleic acids encoding immunogenic GBS Ema polypeptides, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The present invention relates to nucleic acid vaccines or DNA vaccines comprising nucleic acids encoding one or more immunogenic GBS Ema polypeptide or a fragment thereof or any combination of one or more Ema polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE with at least one other GBS polypeptide, particularly wherein said other GBS polypeptide is selected from the group of Spb1, Spb2, C protein alpha antigen, Rib and immunogenic polypeptide fragments thereof.

The invention further relates to a vaccine for protection of an animal subject from infection with a streptococcal bacterium comprising a vector containing a gene encoding an Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, operatively associated with a promoter capable of directing expression of the gene in the subject. The invention further relates to a vaccine for protection of an animal subject from infection with a Group B streptococcal bacterium comprising a vector containing a gene encoding an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE operatively associated with a promoter capable of directing expression of the gene in the subject. The present invention further provides a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a recombinant DNA molecule capable of encoding a GBS polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE.

The present invention provides a vector which comprises the nucleic acid capable of encoding a bacterial Ema polypeptide, particularly a streptococcal Ema polypeptide. The present invention provides a vector which comprises the nucleic acid capable of encoding an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE and a promoter. The present invention provides a vector which comprises the nucleic acid of any of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 24, 27, 30, and 33, and a promoter. The invention contemplates a vector wherein the promoter comprises a bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian promoter. The invention contemplates a vector wherein the vector is a plasmid, cosmid, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), bacteriophage or eukaryotic viral DNA.

The present invention further provides a host vector system for the production of a polypeptide which comprises the vector capable of encoding an Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, in a suitable host cell. A host vector system is provided wherein the suitable host cell comprises a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. A unicellular host transformed with a recombinant DNA molecule or vector capable of encoding an Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, is thereby provided.

A “vector” is a replicon, such as plasmid, phage or cosmid, to which another DNA segment may be attached so as to bring about the replication of the attached segment.

A “DNA” or “DNA molecule” refers to the polymeric form of deoxyribonucleotides (adenine, guanine, thymine, or cytosine) in its either single stranded form, or a double-stranded helix. This term refers only to the primary and secondary structure of the molecule, and does not limit it to any particular tertiary forms. Thus, this term includes double-stranded DNA found, inter alia, in linear DNA molecules (e.g., restriction fragments), viruses, plasmids, and chromosomes. In discussing the structure of particular double-stranded DNA molecules, sequences may be described herein according to the normal convention of giving only the sequence in the 5′ to 3′ direction along the nontranscribed strand of DNA (i.e., the strand having a sequence homologous to the mRNA).

An “origin of replication” refers to those DNA sequences that participate in DNA synthesis.

A DNA “coding sequence” is a double-stranded DNA sequence which is transcribed and translated into a polypeptide in vivo when placed under the control of appropriate regulatory sequences. The boundaries of the coding sequence are determined by a start codon at the 5′ (amino) terminus and a translation stop codon at the 3′ (carboxyl) terminus. A coding sequence can include, but is not limited to, prokaryotic sequences, cDNA from eukaryotic mRNA, genomic DNA sequences from eukaryotic (e.g., mammalian) DNA, and even synthetic DNA sequences. A polyadenylation signal and transcription termination sequence will usually be located 3′ to the coding sequence in the case of eukaryotic mRNA.

Transcriptional and translational control sequences are DNA regulatory sequences, such as promoters, enhancers, polyadenylation signals, terminators, and the like, that provide for the expression of a coding sequence in a host cell.

A “promoter sequence” is a DNA regulatory region capable of binding RNA polymerase in a cell and initiating transcription of a downstream (3′ direction) coding sequence. For purposes of defining the present invention, the promoter sequence is bounded at its 3′ terminus by the transcription initiation site and extends upstream (5′ direction) to include the minimum number of bases or elements necessary to initiate transcription at levels detectable above background. Within the promoter sequence will be found a transcription initiation site (conveniently defined by mapping with nuclease S1), as well as protein binding domains (consensus sequences) responsible for the binding of RNA polymerase. Eukaryotic promoters will often, but not always, contain “TATA” boxes and “CAT” boxes. Prokaryotic promoters contain Shine-Dalgarno sequences in addition to the −10 and −35 consensus sequences.

An “expression control sequence” is a DNA sequence that controls and regulates the transcription and translation of another DNA sequence. A coding sequence is “under the control” of transcriptional and translational control sequences in a cell when RNA polymerase transcribes the coding sequence into mRNA, which is then translated into the protein encoded by the coding sequence.

A “signal sequence” can be included before the coding sequence. This sequence encodes a signal peptide, N-terminal to the polypeptide, that communicates to the host cell to direct the polypeptide to the cell surface or secrete the polypeptide into the media, and this signal peptide is clipped off by the host cell before the protein leaves the cell. Signal sequences can be found associated with a variety of proteins native to prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

The term “oligonucleotide,” as used herein in referring to the probe of the present invention, is defined as a molecule comprised of two or more ribonucleotides, preferably more than three. Its exact size will depend upon many factors which, in turn, depend upon the ultimate function and use of the oligonucleotide.

The term “primer” as used herein refers to an oligonucleotide, whether occurring naturally as in a purified restriction digest or produced synthetically, which is capable of acting as a point of initiation of synthesis when placed under conditions in which synthesis of a primer extension product, which is complementary to a nucleic acid strand, is induced, i.e., in the presence of nucleotides and an inducing agent such as a DNA polymerase and at a suitable temperature and pH. The primer may be either single-stranded or double-stranded and must be sufficiently long to prime the synthesis of the desired extension product in the presence of the inducing agent. The exact length of the primer will depend upon many factors, including temperature, source of primer and use of the method. For example, for diagnostic applications, depending on the complexity of the target sequence, the oligonucleotide primer typically contains 15-25 or more nucleotides, although it may contain fewer nucleotides.

The primers herein are selected to be “substantially” complementary to different strands of a particular target DNA sequence. This means that the primers must be sufficiently complementary to hybridize with their respective strands. Therefore, the primer sequence need not reflect the exact sequence of the template. For example, a non-complementary nucleotide fragment may be attached to the 5′ end of the primer, with the remainder of the primer sequence being complementary to the strand. Alternatively, non-complementary bases or longer sequences can be interspersed into the primer, provided that the primer sequence has sufficient complementarity with the sequence of the strand to hybridize therewith and thereby form the template for the synthesis of the extension product.

As used herein, the terms “restriction endonucleases” and “restriction enzymes” refer to bacterial enzymes, each of which cut double-stranded DNA at or near a specific nucleotide sequence.

A cell has been “transformed” by exogenous or heterologous DNA when such DNA has been introduced inside the cell. The transforming DNA may or may not be integrated (covalently linked) into chromosomal DNA making up the genome of the cell. In prokaryotes, yeast, and mammalian cells for example, the transforming DNA may be maintained on an episomal element such as a plasmid. With respect to eukaryotic cells, a stably transformed cell is one in which the transforming DNA has become integrated into a chromosome so that it is inherited by daughter cells through chromosome replication. This stability is demonstrated by the ability of the eukaryotic cell to establish cell lines or clones comprised of a population of daughter cells containing the transforming DNA. A “clone” is a population of cells derived from a single cell or common ancestor by mitosis. A “cell line” is a clone of a primary cell that is capable of stable growth in vitro for many generations.

Two DNA sequences are “substantially homologous” when at least about 75% (preferably at least about 80%, and most preferably at least about 90 or 95%) of the nucleotides match over the defined length of the DNA sequences. Sequences that are substantially homologous can be identified by comparing the sequences using standard software available in sequence data banks, or in a Southern hybridization experiment under, for example, stringent conditions as defined for that particular system. Defining appropriate hybridization conditions is within the skill of the art. See, e.g., Maniatis et al., supra; DNA Cloning, Vols. I & II, supra; Nucleic Acid Hybridization, supra.

A DNA sequence is “operatively linked” to an expression control sequence when the expression control sequence controls and regulates the transcription and translation of that DNA sequence. The term “operatively linked” includes having an appropriate start signal (e.g., ATG) in front of the DNA sequence to be expressed and maintaining the correct reading frame to permit expression of the DNA sequence under the control of the expression control sequence and production of the desired product encoded by the DNA sequence. If a gene that one desires to insert into a recombinant DNA molecule does not contain an appropriate start signal, such a start signal can be inserted in front of the gene.

The term “standard hybridization conditions” refers to salt and temperature conditions substantially equivalent to 5×SSC and 65° C. for both hybridization and wash. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that such “standard hybridization conditions” are dependent on particular conditions including the concentration of sodium and magnesium in the buffer, nucleotide sequence length and concentration, percent mismatch, percent formamide, and the like. Also important in the determination of “standard hybridization conditions” is whether the two sequences hybridizing are RNA-RNA, DNA-DNA or RNA-DNA. Such standard hybridization conditions are easily determined by one skilled in the art according to well known formulae, wherein hybridization is typically 10-20° C. below the predicted or determined T_(m) with washes of higher stringency, if desired.

It should be appreciated that also within the scope of the present invention are DNA sequences encoding an Ema polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE which code for an Ema polypeptide having the same amino acid sequence as any of SEQ ID NOS:2, 4, 6, 8 or 10, but which are degenerate to any of SEQ ID NOS:1, 3, 5, 7 or 9. By “degenerate to” is meant that a different three-letter codon is used to specify a particular amino acid. It is well known in the art that the following codons can be used interchangeably to code for each specific amino acid:

Phenylalanine (Phe or F) UUU or UUC Leucine (Leu or L) UUA or UUG or CUU or CUC or CUA or CUG Isoleucine (Ile or I) AUU or AUC or AUA Methionine (Met or M) AUG Valine (Val or V) GUU or GUC of GUA or GUG Serine (Ser or S) UCU or UCC or UCA or UCG or AGU or AGC Proline (Pro or P) CCU or CCC or CCA or CCG Threonine (Thr or T) ACU or ACC or ACA or ACG Alanine (Ala or A) GCU or GCG or GCA or GCG Tyrosine (Tyr or Y) UAU or UAC Histidine (His or H) CAU or CAC Glutamine (Gln or Q) CAA or CAG Asparagine (Asn or N) AAU or AAC Lysine (Lys or K) AAA or AAG Aspartic Acid (Asp or D) GAU or GAC Glutamic Acid (Glu or E) GAA or GAG Cysteine (Cys or C) UGU or UGC Arginine (Arg or R) CGU or CGC or CGA or CGG or AGA or AGG Glycine (Gly or G) GGU or GGC or GGA or GGG Tryptophan (Trp or W) UGG Termination codon UAA (ochre) or UAG (amber) or UGA (opal)

It should be understood that the codons specified above are for RNA sequences. The corresponding codons for DNA have a T substituted for U.

Mutations can be made in SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 such that a particular codon is changed to a codon which codes for a different amino acid. Such a mutation is generally made by making the fewest nucleotide changes possible. A substitution mutation of this sort can be made to change an amino acid in the resulting protein in a non-conservative manner (i.e., by changing the codon from an amino acid belonging to a grouping of amino acids having a particular size or characteristic to an amino acid belonging to another grouping) or in a conservative manner (i.e., by changing the codon from an amino acid belonging to a grouping of amino acids having a particular size or characteristic to an amino acid belonging to the same grouping). Such a conservative change generally leads to less change in the structure and function of the resulting protein. A non-conservative change is more likely to alter the structure, activity or function of the resulting protein. The present invention should be considered to include sequences containing conservative changes which do not significantly alter the activity or binding characteristics of the resulting protein.

Two amino acid sequences are “substantially homologous” when at least about 70% of the amino acid residues (preferably at least about 80%, and most preferably at least about 90 or 95%) are identical, or represent conservative substitutions.

A “heterologous” region of the DNA construct is an identifiable segment of DNA within a larger DNA molecule that is not found in association with the larger molecule in nature. Thus, when the heterologous region encodes a mammalian gene, the gene will usually be flanked by DNA that does not flank the mammalian genomic DNA in the genome of the source organism. Another example of a heterologous coding sequence is a construct where the coding sequence itself is not found in nature (e.g., a cDNA where the genomic coding sequence contains introns, or synthetic sequences having codons different than the native gene). Allelic variations or naturally-occurring mutational events do not give rise to a heterologous region of DNA as defined herein.

A DNA sequence is “operatively linked” to an expression control sequence when the expression control sequence controls and regulates the transcription and translation of that DNA sequence. The term “operatively linked” includes having an appropriate start signal (e.g., ATG) in front of the DNA sequence to be expressed and maintaining the correct reading frame to permit expression of the DNA sequence under the control of the expression control sequence and production of the desired product encoded by the DNA sequence. If a gene that one desires to insert into a recombinant DNA molecule does not contain an appropriate start signal, such a start signal can be inserted in front of the gene.

Further this invention also provides a vector which comprises the above-described nucleic acid molecule. The promoter may be, or is identical to, a bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian promoter. Further, the vector may be a plasmid, cosmid, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), bacteriophage or eukaryotic viral DNA. Other numerous vector backbones known in the art as useful for expressing protein may be employed. Such vectors include, but are not limited to: adenovirus, simian virus 40 (SV40), cytomegalovirus (CMV), mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), Moloney murine leukemia virus, DNA delivery systems, i.e. liposomes, and expression plasmid delivery systems. Such vectors may be obtained commercially or assembled from the sequences described by methods well-known in the art.

This invention also provides a host vector system for the production of a polypeptide which comprises the vector of a suitable host cell. A wide variety of unicellular host cells are also useful in expressing the DNA sequences of this invention. These hosts may include well known eukaryotic and prokaryotic hosts, such as strains of E. coli, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Streptomyces, fungi such as yeasts, and animal cells, such as CHO, R1.1, B-W and L-M cells, African Green Monkey kidney cells (e.g., COS 1, COS 7, BSC1, BSC40, and BMT10), insect cells (e.g., Sf9), and human cells and plant cells in tissue culture.

A wide variety of host/expression vector combinations may be employed in expressing the DNA sequences of this invention. Useful expression vectors, for example, may consist of segments of chromosomal, non-chromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences. Suitable vectors include derivatives of SV40 and known bacterial plasmids, e.g., E. coli plasmids col E1, pCR1, pBR322, pMB9 and their derivatives, plasmids such as RP4; phage DNAs, e.g., the numerous derivatives of phage λ, M13 and filamentous single stranded phage DNA; yeast plasmids such as the 2μ plasmid or derivatives thereof, vectors useful in eukaryotic cells, such as vectors useful in insect or mammalian cells; vectors derived from combinations of plasmids and phage DNAs, such as plasmids that have been modified to employ phage DNA or other expression control sequences; and the like.

Any of a wide variety of expression control sequences—sequences that control the expression of a DNA sequence operatively linked to it—may be used in these vectors to express the DNA sequences of this invention. Such useful expression control sequences include, for example, the early or late promoters of SV40, CMV, vaccinia, polyoma or adenovirus, the lac system, the trp system, the TAC system, the TRC system, the LTR system, the major operator and promoter regions of phage λ, the control regions of fd coat protein, the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or other glycolytic enzymes, the promoters of acid phosphatase (e.g., Pho5), the promoters of the yeast α-mating factors, and other sequences known to control the expression of genes of prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells or their viruses, and various combinations thereof.

It will be understood that not all vectors, expression control sequences and hosts will function equally well to express the DNA sequences of this invention. Neither will all hosts function equally well with the same expression system. However, one skilled in the art will be able to select the proper vectors, expression control sequences, and hosts without undue experimentation to accomplish the desired expression without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, in selecting a vector, the host must be considered because the vector must function in it. The vector's copy number, the ability to control that copy number, and the expression of any other proteins encoded by the vector, such as antibiotic markers, will also be considered.

In selecting an expression control sequence, a variety of factors will normally be considered. These include, for example, the relative strength of the system, its controllability, and its compatibility with the particular DNA sequence or gene to be expressed, particularly as regards potential secondary structures. Suitable unicellular hosts will be selected by consideration of, e.g., their compatibility with the chosen vector, their secretion characteristics, their ability to fold proteins correctly, and their fermentation requirements, as well as the toxicity to the host of the product encoded by the DNA sequences to be expressed, and the ease of purification of the expression products.

This invention further provides a method of producing a polypeptide which comprises growing the above-described host vector system under suitable conditions permitting the production of the polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide so produced.

As used herein, “pg” means picogram, “ng” means nanogram, “ug” or “μg” mean microgram, “mg” means milligram, “ul” or “μl” mean microliter, “ml” means milliliter, “l” means liter.

The present invention extends to the preparation of antisense oligonucleotides and ribozymes that may be used to interfere with the expression of one or more Ema protein at the translational level. This approach utilizes antisense nucleic acid and ribozymes to block translation of a specific mRNA, either by masking that mRNA with an antisense nucleic acid or cleaving it with a ribozyme.

Antisense nucleic acids are DNA or RNA molecules that are complementary to at least a portion of a specific mRNA molecule. (See Weintraub, 1990; Marcus-Sekura, 1988.) In the cell, they hybridize to that mRNA, forming a double stranded molecule. The cell does not translate an mRNA in this double-stranded form. Therefore, antisense nucleic acids interfere with the expression of mRNA into protein. Oligomers of about fifteen nucleotides and molecules that hybridize to the AUG initiation codon will be particularly efficient, since they are easy to synthesize and are likely to pose fewer problems than larger molecules when introducing them into Ema-producing cells. Antisense methods have been used to inhibit the expression of many genes in vitro (Marcus-Sekura, 1988; Hambor et al., 1988).

Ribozymes are RNA molecules possessing the ability to specifically cleave other single stranded RNA molecules in a manner somewhat analogous to DNA restriction endonucleases. Ribozymes were discovered from the observation that certain mRNAs have the ability to excise their own introns. By modifying the nucleotide sequence of these RNAs, researchers have been able to engineer molecules that recognize specific nucleotide sequences in an RNA molecule and cleave it (Cech, 1988.). Because they are sequence-specific, only mRNAs with particular sequences are inactivated.

Investigators have identified two types of ribozymes, Tetrahymena-type and “hammerhead”-type. (Hasselhoff and Gerlach, 1988) Tetrahymena-type ribozymes recognize four-base sequences, while “hammerhead”-type recognize eleven- to eighteen-base sequences. The longer the recognition sequence, the more likely it is to occur exclusively in the target mRNA species. Therefore, hammerhead-type ribozymes are preferable to Tetrahymena-type ribozymes for inactivating a specific mRNA species, and eighteen base recognition sequences are preferable to shorter recognition sequences.

Antibodies

This invention further provides an antibody capable of specifically recognizing or binding to the isolated Ema polypeptide of the present invention. The antibody may be a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody. Further, the antibody may be labeled with a detectable marker that is either a radioactive, calorimetric, fluorescent, or a luminescent marker. The labeled antibody may be a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody. In one embodiment, the labeled antibody is a purified labeled antibody. Methods of labeling antibodies are well known in the art.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a purified antibody to a bacterial Ema polypeptide, particularly a streptococcal Ema polypeptide. In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a purified antibody to a Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE.

Antibodies against the isolated polypeptides of the present invention include naturally raised and recombinantly prepared antibodies. These may include both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies prepared by known genetic techniques, as well as bi-specific (chimeric) antibodies, and antibodies including other functionalities suiting them for diagnostic use. Such antibodies can be used in immunoassays to diagnose infection with a particular strain or species of bacteria. The antibodies can also be used for passive immunization to treat an infection with Group B streptococcal bacteria. These antibodies may also be suitable for modulating bacterial adherence and/or invasion including but not limited to acting as competitive agents.

The present invention provides a monoclonal antibody to a Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. The invention thereby extends to an immortal cell line that produces a monoclonal antibody to a Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE.

An antibody to an Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from EmaA, EmaB, EmaC. EmaD or EmaE, labeled with a detectable label is further provided. In particular embodiments, the label may selected from the group consisting of an enzyme, a chemical which fluoresces, and a radioactive element.

The term “antibody” includes, by way of example, both naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring antibodies. Specifically, the term “antibody” includes polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and fragments thereof. Furthermore, the term “antibody” includes chimeric antibodies and wholly synthetic antibodies, and fragments thereof. Such antibodies include but are not limited to polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, single chain, Fab fragments, and an Fab expression library.

An “antibody” is any immunoglobulin, including antibodies and fragments thereof, that binds a specific epitope. The term encompasses polyclonal, monoclonal, and chimeric antibodies, the last mentioned described in further detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,816,397 and 4,816,567.

An “antibody combining site” is that structural portion of an antibody molecule comprised of heavy and light chain variable and hypervariable regions that specifically binds antigen.

The phrase “antibody molecule” in its various grammatical forms as used herein contemplates both an intact immunoglobulin molecule and an immunologically active portion of an immunoglobulin molecule.

Exemplary antibody molecules are intact immunoglobulin molecules, substantially intact immunoglobulin molecules and those portions of an immunoglobulin molecule that contains the paratope, including those portions known in the art as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂ and F(v), which portions are preferred for use in the therapeutic methods described herein.

Fab and F(ab′)₂ portions of antibody molecules are prepared by the proteolytic reaction of papain and pepsin, respectively, on substantially intact antibody molecules by methods that are well-known. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,566 to Theofilopolous et al. Fab′ antibody molecule portions are also well-known and are produced from F(ab′)₂ portions followed by reduction of the disulfide bonds linking the two heavy chain portions as with mercaptoethanol, and followed by alkylation of the resulting protein mercaptan with a reagent such as iodoacetamide. An antibody containing intact antibody molecules is preferred herein.

The phrase “monoclonal antibody” in its various grammatical forms refers to an antibody having only one species of antibody combining site capable of immunoreacting with a particular antigen. A monoclonal antibody thus typically displays a single binding affinity for any antigen with which it immunoreacts. A monoclonal antibody may therefore contain an antibody molecule having a plurality of antibody combining sites, each immunospecific for a different antigen; e.g., a bispecific (chimeric) monoclonal antibody.

Various procedures known in the art may be used for the production of polyclonal antibodies to polypeptide or derivatives or analogs thereof (see, e.g., Antibodies—A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane, eds., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1988). For the production of antibody, various host animals can be immunized by injection with the Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptide, an immunogenic fragment thereof, or a derivative (e.g., fragment or fusion protein) thereof, including but not limited to rabbits, mice, rats, sheep, goats, etc. In one embodiment, the polypeptide can be conjugated to an immunogenic carrier, e.g., bovine serum albumin (BSA) or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Various adjuvant may be used to increase the immunological response, depending on the host species.

For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, or fragment, analog, or derivative thereof, any technique that provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous cell lines in culture may be used (see, e.g., Antibodies—A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane, eds., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1988). These include but are not limited to the hybridoma technique originally developed by Kohler and Milstein (1975, Nature 256:495-497), as well as the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al., 1983, Immunology Today 4:72), and the EBV-hybridoma technique to produce human monoclonal antibodies (Cole et al., 1985, in Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77-96). Monoclonal antibodies can be produced in germ-free animals utilizing recent technology (PCT/US90/02545). Human antibodies may be used and can be obtained by using human hybridomas (Cote et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80:2026-2030) or by transforming human B cells with EBV virus in vitro (Cole et al., 1985, in Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, pp. 77-96). In fact, according to the invention, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies” (Morrison et al, 1984, J. Bacteriol. 159-870; Neuberger et al, 1984, Nature 312:604-608; Takeda et al., 1985, Nature 314:452-454) by splicing the genes from a mouse antibody molecule specific for a polypeptide together with genes from a human antibody molecule of appropriate biological activity can be used; such antibodies are within the scope of this invention. Such human or humanized chimeric antibodies are preferred for use in therapy of human infections or diseases, since the human or humanized antibodies are much less likely than xenogenic antibodies to induce an immune response, in particular an allergic response, themselves. An additional embodiment of the invention utilizes the techniques described for the construction of Fab expression libraries (Huse et al., 1989, Science 246:1275-1281) to allow rapid and easy identification of monoclonal Fab fragments with the desired specificity for the polypeptide, or its derivatives, or analogs.

Antibody fragments which contain the idiotype of the antibody molecule can be generated by known techniques. For example, such fragments include but are not limited to: the F(ab′)₂ fragment which can be produced by pepsin digestion of the antibody molecule; the Fab′ fragments which can be generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of the F(ab′)₂ fragment, and the Fab fragments which can be generated by treating the antibody molecule with papain and a reducing agent.

In the production of antibodies, screening for the desired antibody can be accomplished by techniques known in the art, e.g., radioimmunoassay, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoradiometric assays, gel diffusion precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, in situ immunoassays (using colloidal gold, enzyme or radioisotope labels, for example), western blots, precipitation reactions, agglutination assays (e.g., gel agglutination assays, hemagglutination assays), complement fixation assays, immunofluorescence assays, protein A assays, and immunoelectrophoresis assays, etc. In one embodiment, antibody binding is detected by detecting a label on the primary antibody. In another embodiment, the primary antibody is detected by detecting binding of a secondary antibody or reagent to the primary antibody. In a further embodiment, the secondary antibody is labeled. Many means are known in the art for detecting binding in an immunoassay and are within the scope of the present invention.

Antibodies can be labeled for detection in vitro, e.g., with labels such as enzymes, fluorophores, chromophores, radioisotopes, dyes, colloidal gold, latex particles, and chemiluminescent agents. Alternatively, the antibodies can be labeled for detection in vivo, e.g., with radioisotopes (preferably technetium or iodine); magnetic resonance shift reagents (such as gadolinium and manganese); or radio-opaque reagents.

The labels most commonly employed for these studies are radioactive elements, enzymes, chemicals which fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light, and others. A number of fluorescent materials are known and can be utilized as labels. These include, for example, fluorescein, rhodamine, auramine, Texas Red, AMCA blue and Lucifer Yellow. A particular detecting material is anti-rabbit antibody prepared in goats and conjugated with fluorescein through an isothiocyanate. The polypeptide can also be labeled with a radioactive element or with an enzyme. The radioactive label can be detected by any of the currently available counting procedures. The preferred isotope may be selected from ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, ³⁶Cl, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁷Co, ⁵⁸Co, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁹⁰Y, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, and ¹⁸⁶Re.

Enzyme labels are likewise useful, and can be detected by any of the presently utilized calorimetric, spectrophotometric, fluorospectrophotometric, amperometric or gasometric techniques. The enzyme is conjugated to the selected particle by reaction with bridging molecules such as carbodiimides, diisocyanates, glutaraldehyde and the like. Many enzymes which can be used in these procedures are known and can be utilized. The preferred are peroxidase, β-glucuronidase, β-D-glucosidase, β-D-galactosidase, urease, glucose oxidase plus peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,654,090; 3,850,752; and 4,016,043 are referred to by way of example for their disclosure of alternate labeling material and methods.

Diagnostic Applications

The present invention also relates to, a variety of diagnostic applications, including methods for identifying or monitoring streptococcal infections. The present invention also relates to a variety of diagnostic applications, including methods for identifying or monitoring Group B streptococcal infections. The present invention further relates to diagnostic applications or methods utilizing the polypeptides of the present invention, immunogenically recognized fragments thereof, or antibodies thereto. Such methods include the analysis and evaluation of agents, analogs or compounds which modulate the activity of the Ema polypeptides. The Ema polypeptides may also be utilized in diagnostic methods and assays for monitoring and determining immunological response and antibody response upon streptococcal infection or vaccination.

As described in detail above, antibody(ies) to the Ema polypeptides or fragments thereof can be produced and isolated by standard methods including the well known hybridoma techniques. For convenience, the antibody(ies) to the Ema polypeptides will be referred to herein as Ab₁, and antibody(ies) raised in another species as Ab₂.

The presence of streptococci in cells can be ascertained by the usual immunological procedures applicable to such determinations. A number of useful procedures are known. Procedures which are especially useful utilize either the Ema polypeptides labeled with a detectable label, antibody against the Ema polypeptides labeled with a detectable label, or secondary antibody labeled with a detectable label.

The procedures and their application are all familiar to those skilled in the art and accordingly may be utilized within the scope of the present invention. The “competitive” procedure, is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,654,090 and 3,850,752. The “sandwich” procedure, is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. RE 31,006 and 4,016,043. Still other procedures are known such as the “double antibody,” or “DASP” procedure.

In each instance, the Ema polypeptides forms complexes with one or more antibody(ies) or binding partners and one member of the complex is labeled with a detectable label. The fact that a complex has formed and, if desired, the amount thereof, can be determined by known methods applicable to the detection of labels.

In a further embodiment of this invention, commercial test kits suitable for use by a medical specialist may be prepared to determine the presence or absence of streptococci, particularly of streptococci expressing one or more Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. In as much as the ema locus, as described herein, is found in the genomic DNA of many, if not all, serotypes of Group B streptococci, it is a useful general marker for Group B streptococci. In as much as Ema homologs exist in other species of streptococci, including Group A and S. pneumoniae, it is a useful general marker for streptococci. Therefore, commercial test kits for determining the presence or absence of streptococci, and thereby determining whether an individual is infected with streptococci are contemplated and provided by this invention. Therefore, commercial test kits for determining the presence or absence of Group B streptococci, and thereby determining whether an individual is infected with Group B streptococci are contemplated and provided by this invention.

The present invention includes methods for determining and monitoring infection by streptococci by detecting the presence of a streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. In a particular such method, the streptococcal Ema polypeptide is measured by:

-   -   a. contacting a sample in which the presence or activity of a         Streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB,         EmaC, EmaD and EmaE is suspected with an antibody to the said         streptococcal polypeptide under conditions that allow binding of         the streptococcal polypeptide to the antibody to occur; and     -   b. detecting whether binding has occurred between the         streptococcal polypeptide from the sample and the antibody;         wherein the detection of binding indicates the presence or         activity of the streptococcal polypeptide in the sample.

The present invention includes methods for determining and monitoring infection by Group B streptococci by detecting the presence of a Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. In a particular such method, the streptococcal Ema polypeptide is measured by:

-   -   a. contacting a sample in which the presence or activity of a         Group B Streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of         EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE is suspected with an antibody to         the said Group B streptococcal polypeptide under conditions that         allow binding of the Group B streptococcal polypeptide to the         antibody to occur; and     -   b. detecting whether binding has occurred between the Group B         streptococcal polypeptide from the sample and the antibody;         wherein the detection of binding indicates the presence or         activity of the a Group B streptococcal polypeptide in the         sample.

The present invention further provides a method for detecting the presence of a bacterium having a gene encoding a Group B polypeptide selected from the group of emaA, emaB, emaC, emaD and emaE, comprising:

-   -   a. contacting a sample in which the presence or activity of the         bacterium is suspected with an oligonucleotide which hybridizes         to a Group B streptococcal polypeptide gene selected from the         group of emaA, emaB, emaC, emaD and emaE, under conditions that         allow specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide to the gene         to occur; and     -   b. detecting whether hybridization has occurred between the         oligonucleotide and the gene;         wherein the detection of hybridization indicates that presence         or activity of the bacterium in the sample.

The invention includes an assay system for screening of potential compounds effective to modulate the activity of a bacterial Ema protein of the present invention. In one instance, the test compound, or an extract containing the compound, could be administered to a cellular sample expressing the particular Ema protein to determine the compound's effect upon the activity of the protein by comparison with a control. In a further instance the test compound, or an extract containing the compound, could be administered to a cellular sample expressing the Ema protein to determine the compound's effect upon the activity of the protein, and thereby on adherence of said cellular sample to host cells, by comparison with a control.

Accordingly, a test kit may be prepared for the demonstration of the presence of Ema polypeptide or Ema activity in cells, comprising:

-   -   (a) a predetermined amount of at least one labeled         immunochemically reactive component obtained by the direct or         indirect attachment of the Ema polypeptide or a specific binding         partner thereto, to a detectable label;     -   (b) other reagents; and     -   (c) directions for use of said kit.

More specifically, the diagnostic test kit may comprise:

-   -   (a) a known amount of the Ema polypeptide as described above (or         a binding partner) generally bound to a solid phase to form an         immunosorbent, or in the alternative, bound to a suitable tag,         or plural such end products, etc. (or their binding partners)         one of each;     -   (b) if necessary, other reagents; and     -   (c) directions for use of said test kit.

In a further variation, the test kit may be prepared and used for the purposes stated above, which operates according to a predetermined protocol (e.g. “competitive,” “sandwich,” “double antibody,” etc.), and comprises:

-   -   (a) a labeled component which has been obtained by coupling the         Ema polypeptide to a detectable label;     -   (b) one or more additional immunochemical reagents of which at         least one reagent is a ligand or an immobilized ligand, which         ligand is selected from the group consisting of:         -   (i) a ligand capable of binding with the labeled component             (a);         -   (ii) a ligand capable of binding with a binding partner of             the labeled component (a);         -   (iii) a ligand capable of binding with at least one of the             component(s) to be determined; and         -   (iv) a ligand capable of binding with at least one of the             binding partners of at least one of the component(s) to be             determined; and     -   (c) directions for the performance of a protocol for the         detection and/or determination of one or more components of an         immunochemical reaction between the Ema polypeptide and a         specific binding partner thereto.

In accordance with the above, an assay system for screening potential drugs effective to modulate the activity of the Ema polypeptide may be prepared. The Ema polypeptide may be introduced into a test system, and the prospective drug may also be introduced into the resulting cell culture, and the culture thereafter examined to observe any changes in the Ema polypeptide activity of the cells, due either to the addition of the prospective drug alone, or due to the effect of added quantities of the known Ema polypeptide.

Therapeutic Applications

The therapeutic possibilities that are raised by the existence of the Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptides EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE derive from the fact that the Ema polypeptides of the present invention are found generally in various serotypes of Group B streptococci. In addition, broader therapeutic possibilities that are raised by the existence of Ema homologous polypeptides in various distinct species of streptococci including S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes. In addition Ema homologous polypeptides have been identified in E. faecalis and C. diptheriae. Of particular relevance to their suitability in vaccine and immunological therapy is that the Ema A, EmaB, and EmaC polypeptides possess N-terminal sequences consistent with a signal peptide, indicating secretion from the bacterial cell and at least partial extracellular localization. In addition, the EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE polypeptides demonstrate homology to distinct bacterial proteins involved in or implicated in bacterial adhesion and invasion. Thus, the Ema polypeptides are anticipated to be involved in or required for streptococcal adhesion to and/or invasion of cells, critical for bacterial survival and virulence in the human host.

Modulators of Extracellular Matrix Adhesin Protein

Thus, in instances where it is desired to reduce or inhibit the effects resulting from the extracellular matrix adhesin protein Ema of the present invention, an appropriate inhibitor of one or more of the Ema proteins, particularly EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE could be introduced to block the activity of one or more Ema protein.

The present invention contemplates screens for a modulator of an Ema polypeptide, in particular modulating adhesion or invasion facilitated by EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE. In one such embodiment, an expression vector containing the Ema polypeptide of the present invention, or a derivative or analog thereof, is placed into a cell in the presence of at least one agent suspected of exhibiting Ema polypeptide modulator activity. The cell is preferably a bacterial cell, most preferably a streptococcal cell, or a bacterial host cell. The amount of adhesion or binding activity is determined and any such agent is identified as a modulator when the amount of adhesion or binding activity in the presence of such agent is different than in its absence. The vectors may be introduced by any of the methods described above. In a related embodiment the GBS Ema polypeptide is expressed in streptococci and the step of determining the amount of adhesion or binding activity is performed by determining the amount of binding to bacterial host cells in vitro.

When the amount of adhesion or binding activity in the presence of the modulator is greater than in its absence, the modulator is identified as an agonist or activator of the Ema polypeptide, whereas when the amount of adhesion binding activity in the presence of the modulator is less than in its absence, the modulator is identified as an antagonist or inhibitor of the Ema polypeptide. As any person having skill in the art would recognize, such determinations as these and those below could require some form of statistical analysis, which is well within the skill in the art.

Natural effectors found in cells expressing Ema polypeptide can be fractionated and tested using standard effector assays as exemplified herein, for example. Thus an agent that is identified can be a naturally occurring adhesion or binding modulator. Alternatively, natural products libraries can be screened using the assays of the present invention for screening such agents.

Another approach uses recombinant bacteriophage to produce large libraries. Using the “phage method” [Scott and Smith, 1990, Science 249:386-390 (1990); Cwirla, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 87:6378-6382 (1990); Devlin et al., Science, 249:404-406 (1990)], very large libraries can be constructed (10⁶-10⁸ chemical entities). Yet another approach uses primarily chemical methods, of which the Geysen method [Geysen et al., Molecular Immunology 23:709-715 (1986); Geysen et al. J. Immunologic Method 102:259-274 (1987)] and the method of Fodor et al. [Science 251:767-773 (1991)] are examples. Furka et al. [14th International Congress of Biochemistry, Volume 5, Abstract FR:013 (1988); Furka, Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 37:487-493 (1991)], Houghton [U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,211, issued December 1986] and Rutter et al. [U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,175, issued Apr. 23, 1991] describe methods to produce a mixture of peptides that can be tested.

In another aspect, synthetic libraries [Needels et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:10700-4 (1993); Ohlmeyer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:10922-10926 (1993); Lam et al., International Patent Publication No. WO 92/00252; Kocis et al., International Patent Publication No. WO 9428028, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety], and the like can be used to screen for such an agent.

This invention provides antagonist or blocking agents which include but are not limited to: peptide fragments, mimetic, a nucleic acid molecule, a ribozyme, a polypeptide, a small molecule, a carbohydrate molecule, a monosaccharide, an oligosaccharide or an antibody. Also, agents which competitively block or inhibit streptococcal bacterium are contemplated by this invention. This invention provides an agent which comprises an inorganic compound, a nucleic acid molecule, an oligonucleotide, an organic compound, a peptide, a peptidomimetic compound, or a protein which inhibits the polypeptide.

Vaccines

In a further aspect, the present invention extends to vaccines based on the Ema proteins described herein. The present invention provides a vaccine comprising one or more Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. The present invention provides a vaccine comprising one or more bacterial Ema polypeptide selected from the group of polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence set out in any of SEQ ID NO: 23, 26, 29, 32 and 37, and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.

The present invention further provides a vaccine comprising one or more Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, further comprising one or more additional GBS antigen. The present invention further provides a vaccine comprising one or more Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, further comprising one or more antigens selected from the group of the polypeptide Spb1 or an immunogenic fragment thereof, the polypeptide Spb2 or an immunogenic fragment thereof, C protein alpha antigen or an immunogenic fragment thereof, Rib or an immunogenic fragment thereof, Lmb or an immunogenic fragment thereof, C5a-ase or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and Group B streptococcal polysaccharides or oligosaccharides.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a vaccine for protection of an animal subject from infection with streptococci comprising an immunogenic amount of one or more streptococcal Ema polypeptide, or a derivative or fragment thereof. The Ema polypeptide may be particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE, or a derivative or fragment thereof In a further aspect, the invention is directed to a vaccine for protection of an animal subject from infection with streptococci comprising an immunogenic amount of one or more Ema polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE, or a derivative or fragment thereof In a further aspect, the invention is directed to a vaccine for protection of an animal subject from infection with GBS comprising an immunogenic amount of one or more Ema polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE, or a derivative or fragment thereof Such a vaccine may contain the protein conjugated covalently to a streptococcal or GBS bacterial polysaccharide or oligosaccharide or polysaccharide or oligosaccharide from one or more streptococcal or GBS serotypes.

This invention provides a vaccine which comprises a polypeptide bacterial Ema protein and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant or carrier. In particular, a vaccine is provided which comprises one or more Ema polypeptides selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE. This invention provides a vaccine which comprises a combination of at least one bacterial Ema protein selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE and at least one other Group B streptococcal protein particularly Spb1 and/or Spb2 and/or C protein alpha antigen, and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant or carrier. The Ema polypeptide may comprise an amino acid sequence of a Ema protein EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD, EmaE as set forth in FIGS. 2-6 and SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.

This invention further provides a vaccine comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a bacterial Ema polypeptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant or carrier. This invention further provides a vaccine comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a streptococcal Ema polypeptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant or carrier. This invention further provides a vaccine comprising an isolated nucleic acid encoding a GBS Ema polypeptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant or carrier. This invention further provides a vaccine comprising isolated nucleic acid encoding one or more GBS Ema polypeptide, particularly selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant or carrier. The nucleic acid may comprise a nucleic acid sequence of a GBS Ema polypeptide as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOS:1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.

Active immunity against streptococci can be induced by immunization (vaccination) with an immunogenic amount of the polypeptide, or peptide derivative or fragment thereof, and an adjuvant, wherein the polypeptide, or antigenic derivative or fragment thereof, is the antigenic component of the vaccine. The polypeptide, or antigenic derivative or fragment thereof, may be one antigenic component, in the presence of other antigenic components in a vaccine. For instance, the polypeptide of the present invention may be combined with other known streptococcal polypeptides or poly/oligosaccharides, or immunogenic fragments thereof, including for instance GBS capsular polysaccharide, Spb1, Spb2, C protein alpha antigen, Rib, Lmb, and C5a-ase in a multi-component vaccine. Such multi-component vaccine may be utilized to enhance immune response, even in cases where the polypeptide of the present invention elicits a response on its own. The polypeptide of the present invention may also be combined with existing vaccines, whole bacterial or capsule-based vaccines, alone or in combination with other GBS polypeptides, particularly Spb1 and/or Spb2 and/or C protein alpha antigen and/or Rib to enhance such existing vaccines.

The term “adjuvant” refers to a compound or mixture that enhances the immune response to an antigen. An adjuvant can serve as a tissue depot that slowly releases the antigen and also as a lymphoid system activator that non-specifically enhances the immune response (Hood et al., Immunology, Second Ed, 1984, Benjamin/Cummings: Menlo Park, Calif., p. 384). Often, a primary challenge with an antigen alone, in the absence of an adjuvant, will fail to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response. Adjuvant include, but are not limited to, complete Freund's adjuvant, incomplete Freund's adjuvant, saponin, mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil or hydrocarbon emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanins, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful human adjuvant such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and Corynebacterium parvum. Preferably, the adjuvant is pharmaceutically acceptable.

The invention further provides a vaccine which comprises a non-adherent, non-virulent mutant, including but not limited to the ema⁻ mutants herein described and contemplated. Medaglini et al (Madaglini et al (1995) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92; 6868-6872) and Oggioni and Pozzi (Oggioni, M. R. and Pozzi, G. (1996) Gene 169:85-90) have previously described the use of Streptococcus gordonii, a commensal bacterium of the human oral cavity, as live vaccine delivery vehicles and for heterologous gene expression. Such ema⁻ mutant can therefore be utilized as a vehicle for expression of immunogenic proteins for the purposes of eliciting an immune response to such other proteins in the context of vaccines. Active immunity against Group B streptococci, can be induced by immunization (vaccination) with an immunogenic amount of the ema⁻ vehicle expressing an immunogenic protein. Also contemplated by the present invention is the use of any such ema⁻ mutant in expressing a therapeutic protein in the host in the context of other forms of therapy.

The polypeptide of the present invention, or fragments thereof, can be prepared in an admixture with an adjuvant to prepare a vaccine. Preferably, the polypeptide or peptide derivative or fragment thereof, used as the antigenic component of the vaccine is an antigen common to all or many serotypes of GBS bacteria, or common to closely related species of bacteria, for instance Streptococcus.

Vectors containing the nucleic acid-based vaccine of the invention can be introduced into the desired host by methods known in the art, e.g., transfection, electroporation, micro injection, transduction, cell fusion, DEAE dextran, calcium phosphate precipitation, lipofection (lysosome fusion), use of a gene gun, or a DNA vector transporter (see, e.g., Wu et al., 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267:963-967; Wu and Wu, 1988, J. Biol. Chem. 263:14621-14624; Hartmut et al., Canadian Patent Application No. 2,012,311, filed Mar. 15, 1990).

The modes of administration of the vaccine or compositions of the present invention may comprise the use of any suitable means and/or methods for delivering the vaccine or composition to the host animal whereby they are immumostimulatively effective. Delivery modes may include, without limitation, parenteral administration methods, such as paracancerally, transmucosally, transdermally, intramuscularly, intravenously, intradermally, subcutaneously, intraperitonealy, intraventricularly, intracranially and intratumorally. Preferably, since the desired result of vaccination is to elucidate an immune response to the antigen, and thereby to the pathogenic organism, administration directly, or by targeting or choice of a viral vector, indirectly, to lymphoid tissues, e.g., lymph nodes or spleen, is desirable. Since immune cells are continually replicating, they are ideal target for retroviral vector-based nucleic acid vaccines, since retroviruses require replicating cells. These vaccines and compositions can be used to immunize mammals, for example, by the intramuscular or parenteral routes, or by delivery to mucosal surfaces using microparticles, capsules, liposomes and targeting molecules, such as toxins and antibodies. The vaccines and immunogenic compositions may be administered to mucosal surfaces by, for example, the nasal or oral (intragastric) routes. Alternatively, other modes of administration including suppositories may be desirable. For suppositories, binders and carriers may include, for example, polyalkylene glycols and triglycerides. Oral formulations may include normally employed incipients, such as pharmaceutical grades of saccharine, cellulose and magnesium carbonate.

These compositions may take the form of solutions, suspensions, tablets, pills, capsules, sustained release formulations or powders and contain 1 to 95% of the immunogenic compositions of the present invention. The immunogenic compositions are administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation, and in such amount as to be therapeutically effective, protective and immunogenic. The quantity to be administered depends on the subject to the immunized, including, for example, the capacity of the subject's immune system to synthesize antibodies, and if needed, to produce a cell-mediated, humoral or antibody-mediated immune response. Precise amounts of antigen and immunogenic composition to be administered depend on the judgement of the practitioner. However, suitable dosage ranges are readily determinable by those skilled in the art and may be of the order of micrograms to milligrams. Suitable regimes for initial administration and booster doses are also variable, but may include an initial administration followed by subsequent administrations. The dosage of the vaccine may also depend on the route of administration and will vary according to the size of the host.

Passive immunity can be conferred to an animal subject suspected of suffering an infection with streptococci by administering antiserum, polyclonal antibodies, or a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against one or more Ema polypeptide of the invention to the patient. A combination of antibodies directed against one or more Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, in combination with one or more of antibodies against Spb1, Spb2, Rib and C protein alpha antigen is also contemplated by the present invention. Although passive immunity does not confer long term protection, it can be a valuable tool for the treatment of a bacterial infection in a subject who has not been vaccinated. Passive immunity is particularly important for the treatment of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, since no other therapy may be available. Preferably, the antibodies administered for passive immune therapy are autologous antibodies. For example, if the subject is a human, preferably the antibodies are of human origin or have been “humanized,” in order to minimize the possibility of an immune response against the antibodies. The active or passive vaccines of the invention can be used to protect an animal subject from infection by streptococcus, particularly Group B streptococcus.

Vaccines for GBS have been previously generated and tested. Preliminary vaccines used unconjugated purified polysaccaride. GBS polysaccharides and oligosaccharides are poorly immunogenic and fail to elicit significant memory and booster responses. Baker et al immunized 40 pregnant women with purified serotype III capsular polysaccharide (Baker, C. J. et al. (1998) New Engl J of Med 319:1180-1185). Overall, only 57% of women with low levels of specific antibody responded to the vaccine. The poor immunogenicity of purified polysaccharide antigen was further demonstrated in a study in which thirty adult volunteers were immunized with a tetravalent vaccine composed of purified polysaccharide from serotypes Ia, Ib, II, and III (Kotloff, K. L. et al. (1996) Vaccine 14:446-450). Although safe, this vaccine was only modestly immunogenic, with only 13% of subjects responding to type Ib, 17% to type II, 33% responding to type Ia, and 70% responding to type III polysaccharide. The poor immunogenicity of polysaccaride antigens prompted efforts to develop polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, whereby these polysaccharides or oligosaccharides are conjugated to protein carriers. Ninety percent of healthy adult women immunized with a type III polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine responded with a 4-fold rise in antibody concentration, compared to 50% immunized with plain polysaccharide (Kasper, D. L. et al (1996) J of Clin Invest 98:2308-2314). A type Ia/Ib polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine was similarly more immunogenic in healthy adults than plain polysaccharide (Baker, C. J. et al (1999) J Infect Dis 179:142-150).

The general method for the conjugation of polysaccharide is described in Wessels et al (Wessels, M. R. et al (1990) J. Clin Investigation 86: 1428-1433). Prior to coupling with tetanus toxoid, aldehyde groups are introduced on the polysaccharide by controlled periodate oxidation, resulting in the conversion of a portion of the sialic acid residues of the polysaccharide to residues of the 8-carbon analogue of sialic acid, 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-D-galactosyloctulosonic acid. Tetanus toxoid is conjugated to the polysaccharide by reductive amination using free aldehyde groups present on the partially oxidized sialic acid residues. The preparation and conjugation of oligosaccharides is described in Paoletti et al (Paoletti, L. C. et al (1990) J. Biol Chem 265: 18278-18283). Purified capsular polysaccharide is depolymerized by enzymatic digestion using endo-beta-galactosidase produced by Citrobacter freundii. Following digestion, oligosaccharides are fractionated by gel filtration chromatography. Tetanus toxoid was covalently coupled via a synthetic spacer molecule to the reducing end of the oligosaccharide by reductive amination.

Methods and vaccines comprising GBS conjugate vaccines, comprising capsular polysaccharide and protein are provided and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,993,825, 5,843,461, 5,795,580, 5,302,386 and 4,356,263, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. These conjugate vaccines include polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccines.

One polypeptide proposed to be utilized in a GBS vaccine is the repetitive GBS C protein alpha antigen, which contains up to nine tandemly repeated units of 82 amino acids (Michel, J. K. et al (1992) PNAS USA 89: 10060-10064). The polypeptide, methods and vaccines thereof, including polysaccharide-conjugate vaccines generated therewith, are provided and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,968,521, 5,908,629, 5,858,362, 5,847,081, 5,843,461, 5,843,444, 5,820,860, and 5,648,241, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Antibodies generated against C protein alpha antigen with a large numbers of repeats protect against infection, but GBS are able to change the structure of the protein by deleting one or more of the repeat regions and escape detection by these antibodies (Madoff, L. C. et al (1996) PNAS USA 93: 4131-4136). This effect could theoretically be prevented by immunization with a protein with a lower number of repeat units, but the immunogenicity of the C protein alpha antigen is inversely related to the number of repeats—65% of mice responded to immunization with the 9-repeat protein, but only 11% to a 1-repeat protein (Cravekamp, C. et al (1997) Infect Immunity 65: 5216-5221). This is a disadvantage with any protein with a repetitive structure—it is common for bacteria to be able to alter or reassort these genes to alter the proteins exposed on their surface.

Typical doses for a vaccine composed of a protein antigen are in the range of 2.5-50 ug of total protein per dose. Typical doses for a polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine are 7.5-25 ug of polysaccharide and 1.25-250 ug of carrier protein. These types of vaccines are almost always given intramuscularly. Dosing schedules of a vaccine can be readily determined by the skilled artisan, particularly by comparison of similar vaccines, including other GBS vaccines. If used as a universal vaccine, a GBS vaccine would be integrated into the routine immunization schedule. Most similar vaccines require a primary series of immunizations (usually 2 or 3 doses at 2 month intervals beginning at 1 or 2 months of age) and a single booster at 12-18 months of age. A smaller number of doses or a single dose may be adequate in older children (over a year of age). For immunization of pregnant women, an exemplary immunization schedule would be a single dose given in the second or early third trimester. For immunization of non-pregnant adults, a single dose would probably be used. The requirement for subsequent booster doses in adults is difficult to predict—this would be based on the immunogenicity of the vaccine and ongoing surveillance of vaccine efficacy.

Immunogenic Compositions

In a further aspect, the present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising one of more bacterial Ema polypeptides. In a still further aspect, the present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising one of more streptococcal Ema polypeptides. In a particular aspect, the present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising one of more Group B streptococcal polypeptides selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD, EmaE and a fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. Immunogenic compositions may comprise a combination of one or more Group B Ema polypeptide, or an immunogenic polypeptide fragment thereof, with one or more additional GBS polypeptide or GBS capsular polysaccharide or oligosaccharide.

The present invention further provides an immunogenic composition comprising one or more Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, further comprising one or more antigens selected from the group of the polypeptide Spb1 or an immunogenic fragment thereof, the polypeptide Spb2 or an immunogenic fragment thereof, C protein alpha antigen or an immunogenic fragment thereof, Rib or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and Group B streptococcal polysaccharides or oligosaccharides.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a bacterial Ema polypeptide, particularly a streptococcal Ema polypeptide, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a Group B streptococcal polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more GBS Ema polypeptide, or a fragment thereof, in combination with one or more of GBS polypeptide Spb1, Spb2, C protein alpha antigen, Rib, a Group B streptococcal polysaccharide or oligosaccharide vaccine, and an anti-streptococcal vaccine.

Such pharmaceutical composition for preventing streptococcal attachment to mucosal surface may include antibody to Ema polypeptide EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD or EmaE or any combination of antibodies to one or more such Ema polypeptide. In addition, any such composition may further include antibody to GBS polypeptides Spb1, Spb2, C protein alpha antigen, or Rib. Blocking adherence using such antibody blocks the initial step in infection thereby reducing colonization. This in turn decreases person to person transmission and prevents development of symptomatic disease.

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody to a Group B streptococcal protein selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of at least two antibodies to Group B streptococcal proteins and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein at least one antibody to a protein selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD, EmaE, is combined with at least one antibody to a protein selected from the group of Spb1, Spb2, Rib, and C protein alpha antigen.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the prevention or treatment of mammals to control the amount or activity of streptococci, so as to treat or prevent the adverse consequences of invasive, spontaneous, or idiopathic pathological states.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the prevention or treatment of mammals to control the amount or activity of Group B streptococci, so as to treat or prevent the adverse consequences of invasive, spontaneous, or idiopathic pathological states.

The invention provides a method for preventing infection with a bacterium that expresses a streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising administering an immunogenically effective dose of a vaccine comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE to a subject.

The invention further provides a method for preventing infection with a bacterium that expresses a Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising administering an immunogenically effective dose of a vaccine comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE to a subject.

The present invention is directed to a method for treating infection with a bacterium that expresses a Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a subject.

The invention further provides a method for treating infection with a bacterium that expresses a Group B streptococcal Ema polypeptide comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody to an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a subject.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of inducing an immune response in a subject which has been exposed to or infected with a Group B streptococcal bacterium comprising administering to the subject an amount of the pharmaceutical composition comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, thereby inducing an immune response.

The invention still further provides a method for preventing infection by a streptococcal bacterium in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody to an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, thereby preventing infection by a streptococcal bacterium.

The invention further provides an ema mutant bacteria which is non-adherent and/or non-invasive to cells and which is mutated in one or more genes selected from the group of emaA, emaB, emaC, emaD and emaE. Particularly, such ema mutant is a Group B streptococcal bacteria. Such non-adherent and/or non-invasive ema mutant bacteria can further be utilized in expressing other immunogenic or therapeutic proteins for the purposes of eliciting immune responses to any such other proteins in the context of vaccines and in other forms of therapy.

This invention provides a method of inhibiting colonization of host cells in a subject which has been exposed to or infected with a streptococcal bacterium comprising administering to the subject an amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an Ema polypeptide selected from the group of EmaA, EmaB, EmaC, EmaD and EmaE, thereby inducing an immune response. The therapeutic peptide that blocks colonization is delivered by the respiratory mucosal. The pharmaceutical composition comprises the polypeptide selected from the group of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.

As used herein, “pharmaceutical composition” could mean therapeutically effective amounts of polypeptide products or antibodies of the invention together with suitable diluents, preservatives, solubilizers, emulsifiers, adjuvant and/or carriers useful in therapy against bacterial infection or in inducing an immune response. A “therapeutically effective amount” as used herein refers to that amount which provides a therapeutic effect for a given condition and administration regimen. Such compositions are liquids or lyophilized or otherwise dried formulations and include diluents of various buffer content (e.g., Tris-HCl, acetate, phosphate), pH and ionic strength, additives such as albumin or gelatin to prevent absorption to surfaces, detergents (e.g., Tween 20, Tween 80, Pluronic F68, bile acid salts), solubilizing agents (e.g., glycerol, polyethylene glycerol), anti-oxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid, sodium metabisulfite), preservatives (e.g., Thimerosal, benzyl alcohol, parabens), bulking substances or tonicity modifiers (e.g., lactose, mannitol), covalent attachment of polymers such as polyethylene glycol to the protein, complexation with metal ions, or incorporation of the material into or onto particulate preparations of polymeric compounds such as polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, hydrogels, etc, or onto liposomes, microemulsions, micelles, unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles, erythrocyte ghosts, or spheroplasts. Such compositions will influence the physical state, solubility, stability, rate of in vivo release, and rate of in vivo clearance of the polypeptides of the present invention. The choice of compositions will depend on the physical and chemical properties of the polypeptide. Controlled or sustained release compositions include formulation in lipophilic depots (e.g., fatty acids, waxes, oils). Also comprehended by the invention are particulate compositions coated with polymers (e.g., poloxamers or poloxamines) and the polypeptides of the present invention coupled to antibodies directed against tissue-specific receptors, ligands or antigens or coupled to ligands of tissue-specific receptors. Other embodiments of the compositions of the invention incorporate particulate forms, protective coatings, protease inhibitors or permeation enhancers for various routes of administration, including parenteral, pulmonary, nasal and oral.

Further, as used herein “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” are well known to those skilled in the art and include, but are not limited to, 0.01-0.1M and preferably 0.05M phosphate buffer or 0.8% saline. Additionally, such pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may be aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. Examples of non-aqueous solvents are propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Aqueous carriers include water, alcoholic/aqueous solutions, emulsions or suspensions, including saline and buffered media. Parenteral vehicles include sodium chloride solution, Ringer's dextrose, dextrose and sodium chloride, lactated Ringer's or fixed oils. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers, electrolyte replenishers such as those based on Ringer's dextrose, and the like. Preservatives and other additives may also be present, such as, for example, antimicrobials, antioxidants, collating agents, inert gases and the like.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to molecular entities and compositions that are physiologically tolerable and do not typically produce an allergic or similar untoward reaction, such as gastric upset, dizziness and the like, when administered to a human.

The phrase “therapeutically effective amount” is used herein to mean an amount sufficient to prevent, and preferably reduce by at least about 30 percent, more preferably by at least 50 percent, most preferably by at least 90 percent, a clinically significant infection by streptococcal bacterium. Alternatively, in the case of a vaccine or immunogenic composition, a therapeutically effective amount is used herein to mean an amount sufficient and suitable to elicit an immune response and antibody response in an individual, and particularly to provide a response sufficient to prevent, and preferably reduce by at least about 30 percent, more preferably by at least 50 percent, most preferably by at least 90 percent, a clinically significant infection by streptococcal bacterium.

Controlled or sustained release compositions include formulation in lipophilic depots (e.g. fatty acids, waxes, oils). Also comprehended by the invention are particulate compositions coated with polymers (e.g. poloxamers or poloxamines) and the compound coupled to antibodies directed against tissue-specific receptors, ligands or antigens or coupled to ligands of tissue-specific receptors. Other embodiments of the compositions of the invention incorporate particulate forms protective coatings, protease inhibitors or permeation enhancers for various routes of administration, including parenteral, pulmonary, nasal and oral.

When administered, compounds are often cleared rapidly from mucosal surfaces or the circulation and may therefore elicit relatively short-lived pharmacological activity. Consequently, frequent administrations of relatively large doses of bioactive compounds may by required to sustain therapeutic efficacy. Compounds modified by the covalent attachment of water-soluble polymers such as polyethylene glycol, copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, carboxymethyl cellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyproline are known to exhibit substantially longer half-lives in blood following intravenous injection than do the corresponding unmodified compounds (Abuchowski et al., 1981; Newmark et al., 1982; and Katre et al., 1987). Such modifications may also increase the compound's solubility in aqueous solution, eliminate aggregation, enhance the physical and chemical stability of the compound, and greatly reduce the immunogenicity and reactivity of the compound. As a result, the desired in vivo biological activity may be achieved by the administration of such polymer-compound abducts less frequently or in lower doses than with the unmodified compound.

Dosages. The sufficient amount may include but is not limited to from about 1 μg/kg to about 1000 mg/kg. The amount may be 10 mg/kg. The pharmaceutically acceptable form of the composition includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

As noted above, the present invention provides therapeutic compositions comprising pharmaceutical compositions comprising vectors, vaccines, polypeptides, nucleic acids and antibodies, anti-antibodies, and agents, to compete with the Group B streptococcus bacterium for pathogenic activities, such as adherence to host cells.

The preparation of therapeutic compositions which contain an active component is well understood in the art. Typically, such compositions are prepared as an aerosol of the polypeptide delivered to the nasopharynx or as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions, however, solid forms suitable for solution in, or suspension in, liquid prior to injection can also be prepared. The preparation can also be emulsified. The active therapeutic ingredient is often mixed with excipients which are pharmaceutically acceptable and compatible with the active ingredient. Suitable excipients are, for example, water, saline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol, or the like and combinations thereof. In addition, if desired, the composition can contain minor amounts of auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents which enhance the effectiveness of the active ingredient.

An active component can be formulated into the therapeutic composition as neutralized pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include the acid addition salts (formed with the free amino groups of the polypeptide or antibody molecule) and which are formed with inorganic acids such as, for example, hydrochloric or phosphoric acids, or such organic acids as acetic, oxalic, tartaric, mandelic, and the like. Salts formed from the free carboxyl groups can also be derived from inorganic bases such as, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, or ferric hydroxides, and such organic bases as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, 2-ethylamino ethanol, histidine, procaine, and the like.

A composition comprising “A” (where “A” is a single protein, DNA molecule, vector, etc.) is substantially free of “B” (where “B” comprises one or more contaminating proteins, DNA molecules, vectors, etc.) when at least about 75% by weight of the proteins, DNA, vectors (depending on the category of species to which A and B belong) in the composition is “A”. Preferably, “A” comprises at least about 90% by weight of the A+B species in the composition, most preferably at least about 99% by weight.

The phrase “therapeutically effective amount” is used herein to mean an amount sufficient to reduce by at least about 15 percent, preferably by at least 50 percent, more preferably by at least 90 percent, and most preferably prevent, a clinically significant deficit in the activity, function and response of the host. Alternatively, a therapeutically effective amount is sufficient to cause an improvement in a clinically significant condition in the host. In the context of the present invention, a deficit in the response of the host is evidenced by continuing or spreading bacterial infection. An improvement in a clinically significant condition in the host includes a decrease in bacterial load, clearance of bacteria from colonized host cells, reduction in fever or inflammation associated with infection, or a reduction in any symptom associated with the bacterial infection.

According to the invention, the component or components of a therapeutic composition of the invention may be introduced parenterally, transmucosally, e.g., orally, nasally, pulmonarally, or rectally, or transdermally. Preferably, administration is parenteral, e.g., via intravenous injection, and also including, but is not limited to, intra-arteriole, intramuscular, intradermal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intraventricular, and intracranial administration. Oral or pulmonary delivery may be preferred to activate mucosal immunity; since Group B streptococci generally colonize the nasopharyngeal and pulmonary mucosa, particularly that of neonates, mucosal immunity may be a particularly effective preventive treatment. The term “unit dose” when used in reference to a therapeutic composition of the present invention refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosage for humans, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required diluent; i.e., carrier, or vehicle.

In another embodiment, the active compound can be delivered in a vesicle, in particular a liposome (see Langer, Science 249:1527-1533 (1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, New York, pp. 353-365 (1989); Lopez-Berestein, ibid., pp. 317-327; see generally ibid).

In yet another embodiment, the therapeutic compound can be delivered in a controlled release system. For example, the polypeptide may be administered using intravenous infusion, an implantable osmotic pump, a transdermal patch, liposomes, or other modes of administration. In one embodiment, a pump may be used (see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201 (1987); Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507 (1980); Saudek et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 321:574 (1989)). In another embodiment, polymeric materials can be used (see Medical Applications of Controlled Release, Langer and Wise (eds.), CRC Pres., Boca Raton, Fla. (1974); Controlled Drug Bioavailability, Drug Product Design and Performance, Smolen and Ball (eds.), Wiley, N.Y. (1984); Ranger and Peppas, J. Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23:61 (1983); see also Levy et al., Science 228:190 (1985); During et al., Ann. Neurol. 25:351 (1989); Howard et al., J. Neurosurg. 71:105 (1989)). In yet another embodiment, a controlled release system can be placed in proximity of the therapeutic target, i.e., the brain, thus requiring only a fraction of the systemic dose (see, e.g., Goodson, in Medical Applications of Controlled Release, supra, vol. 2, pp. 115-138 (1984)). Preferably, a controlled release device is introduced into a subject in proximity of the site of inappropriate immune activation or a tumor. Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review by Langer (Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)).

A subject in whom administration of an active component as set forth above is an effective therapeutic regimen for a bacterial infection is preferably a human, but can be any animal. Thus, as can be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the methods and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are particularly suited to administration to any animal, particularly a mammal, and including, but by no means limited to, domestic animals, such as feline or canine subjects, farm animals, such as but not limited to bovine, equine, caprine, ovine, and porcine subjects, wild animals (whether in the wild or in a zoological garden), research animals, such as mice, rats, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, etc., i.e., for veterinary medical use.

In the therapeutic methods and compositions of the invention, a therapeutically effective dosage of the active component is provided. A therapeutically effective dosage can be determined by the ordinary skilled medical worker based on patient characteristics (age, weight, sex, condition, complications, other diseases, etc.), as is well known in the art. Furthermore, as further routine studies are conducted, more specific information will emerge regarding appropriate dosage levels for treatment of various conditions in various patients, and the ordinary skilled worker, considering the therapeutic context, age and general health of the recipient, is able to ascertain proper dosing. Generally, for intravenous injection or infusion, dosage may be lower than for intraperitoneal, intramuscular, or other route of administration. The dosing schedule may vary, depending on the circulation half-life, and the formulation used. The compositions are administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation in the therapeutically effective amount. Precise amounts of active ingredient required to be administered depend on the judgment of the practitioner and are peculiar to each individual. However, suitable dosages may range from about 0.1 to 20, preferably about 0.5 to about 10, and more preferably one to several, milligrams of active ingredient per kilogram body weight of individual per day and depend on the route of administration. Suitable regimes for initial administration and booster shots are also variable, but are typified by an initial administration followed by repeated doses at one or more hour intervals by a subsequent injection or other administration. Alternatively, continuous intravenous infusion sufficient to maintain concentrations of ten nanomolar to ten micromolar in the blood are contemplated.

Administration with other compounds. For treatment of a bacterial infection, one may administer the present active component in conjunction with one or more pharmaceutical compositions used for treating bacterial infection, including but not limited to (1) antibiotics; (2) soluble carbohydrate inhibitors of bacterial adhesin; (3) other small molecule inhibitors of bacterial adhesin; (4) inhibitors of bacterial metabolism, transport, or transformation; (5) stimulators of bacterial lysis, or (6) anti-bacterial antibodies or vaccines directed at other bacterial antigens. Other potential active components include anti-inflammatory agents, such as steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Administration may be simultaneous (for example, administration of a mixture of the present active component and an antibiotic), or may be in seriatim.

Accordingly, in specific embodiment, the therapeutic compositions may further include an effective amount of the active component, and one or more of the following active ingredients: an antibiotic, a steroid, etc.

Thus, in a specific instance where it is desired to reduce or inhibit the infection resulting from a bacterium mediated binding of bacteria to a host cell, or an antibody thereto, or a ligand thereof or an antibody to that ligand, the polypeptide is introduced to block the interaction of the bacteria with the host cell.

Also contemplated herein is pulmonary delivery of an inhibitor of the polypeptide of the present invention having which acts as adhesin inhibitory agent (or derivatives thereof). The adhesin inhibitory agent (or derivative) is delivered to the lungs of a mammal, where it can interfere with bacterial, i.e., streptococcal, and preferably Group B streptococcal binding to host cells. Other reports of preparation of proteins for pulmonary delivery are found in the art [Adjei et al. (1990) Pharmaceutical Research, 7:565-569; Adjei et al. (1990) International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 63:135-144 (leuprolide acetate); Braquet et al (1989), Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 13(suppl. 5):143-146 (endothelin-1); Hubbard et al. (1989) Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. III, pp. 206-212 (α-1-antitrypsin); Smith et al. (1989) J. Clin. Invest. 84:1145-1146 (α-1-proteinase); Oswein et al., “Aerosolization of Proteins”, Proceedings of Symposium on Respiratory Drug Delivery II, Keystone, Colo., March, (1990) (recombinant human growth hormone); Debs et al. (1988) J. Immunol. 140:3482-3488 (interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor alpha); Platz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,656 (granulocyte colony stimulating factor)]. A method and composition for pulmonary delivery of drugs is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,569, issued Sep. 19, 1995 to Wong et al.

All such devices require the use of formulations suitable for the dispensing of adhesin inhibitory agent (or derivative). Typically, each formulation is specific to the type of device employed and may involve the use of an appropriate propellant material, in addition to the usual diluents, adjuvant and/or carriers useful in therapy. Also, the use of liposomes, microcapsules or microspheres, inclusion complexes, or other types of carriers is contemplated. Chemically modified adhesin inhibitory agent may also be prepared in different formulations depending on the type of chemical modification or the type of device employed.

Formulations suitable for use with a nebulizer, either jet or ultrasonic, will typically comprise adhesin inhibitory agent (or derivative) dissolved in water at a concentration of about 0.1 to 25 mg of biologically active adhesin inhibitory agent per ml of solution. The formulation may also include a buffer and a simple sugar (e.g., for adhesin inhibitory agent stabilization and regulation of osmotic pressure). The nebulizer formulation may also contain a surfactant, to reduce or prevent surface induced aggregation of the adhesin inhibitory agent caused by atomization of the solution in forming the aerosol.

Formulations for use with a metered-dose inhaler device will generally comprise a finely divided powder containing the adhesin inhibitory agent (or derivative) suspended in a propellant with the aid of a surfactant. The propellant may be any conventional material employed for this purpose, such as a chlorofluorocarbon, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon, a hydrofluorocarbon, or a hydrocarbon, including trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethanol, and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, or combinations thereof. Suitable surfactants include sorbitan trioleate and soya lecithin. Oleic acid may also be useful as a surfactant.

The liquid aerosol formulations contain adhesin inhibitory agent and a dispersing agent in a physiologically acceptable diluent. The dry powder aerosol formulations of the present invention consist of a finely divided solid form of adhesin inhibitory agent and a dispersing agent. With either the liquid or dry powder aerosol formulation, the formulation must be aerosolized. That is, it must be broken down into liquid or solid particles in order to ensure that the aerosolized dose actually reaches the mucous membranes of the nasal passages or the lung. The term “aerosol particle” is used herein to describe the liquid or solid particle suitable for nasal or pulmonary administration, i.e., that will reach the mucous membranes. Other considerations, such as construction of the delivery device, additional components in the formulation, and particle characteristics are important. These aspects of pulmonary administration of a drug are well known in the art, and manipulation of formulations, aerosolization means and construction of a delivery device require at most routine experimentation by one of ordinary skill in the art. In a particular embodiment, the mass median dynamic diameter will be 5 micrometers or less in order to ensure that the drug particles reach the lung alveoli [Wearley, L. L. (1991) Crit. Rev. in Ther. Drug Carrier Systems 8:333].

Systems of aerosol delivery, such as the pressurized metered dose inhaler and the dry powder inhaler are disclosed in Newman, S. P., Aerosols and the Lung, Clarke, S. W. and Davia, D. editors, pp. 197-22 and can be used in connection with the present invention.

In a further embodiment, as discussed in detail infra, an aerosol formulation of the present invention can include other therapeutically or pharmacologically active ingredients in addition to adhesin inhibitory agent, such as but not limited to an antibiotic, a steroid, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, etc.

Liquid Aerosol Formulations. The present invention provides aerosol formulations and dosage forms for use in treating subjects suffering from bacterial, e.g., streptococcal, in particularly streptococcal, infection. In general such dosage forms contain adhesin inhibitory agent in a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent. Pharmaceutically acceptable diluents include but are not limited to sterile water, saline, buffered saline, dextrose solution, and the like. In a specific embodiment, a diluent that may be used in the present invention or the pharmaceutical formulation of the present invention is phosphate buffered saline, or a buffered saline solution generally between the pH 7.0-8.0 range, or water.

The liquid aerosol formulation of the present invention may include, as optional ingredients, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, solubilizing or emulsifying agents, surfactants and excipients. The formulation may include a carrier. The carrier is a macromolecule which is soluble in the circulatory system and which is physiologically acceptable where physiological acceptance means that those of skill in the art would accept injection of said carrier into a patient as part of a therapeutic regime. The carrier preferably is relatively stable in the circulatory system with an acceptable plasma half life for clearance. Such macromolecules include but are not limited to Soya lecithin, oleic acid and sorbitan trioleate, with sorbitan trioleate preferred.

The formulations of the present embodiment may also include other agents useful for pH maintenance, solution stabilization, or for the regulation of osmotic pressure. Examples of the agents include but are not limited to salts, such as sodium chloride, or potassium chloride, and carbohydrates, such as glucose, galactose or mannose, and the like.

The present invention further contemplates liquid aerosol formulations comprising adhesin inhibitory agent and another therapeutically effective drug, such as an antibiotic, a steroid, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, etc.

Aerosol Dry Powder Formulations. It is also contemplated that the present aerosol formulation can be prepared as a dry powder formulation comprising a finely divided powder form of adhesin inhibitory agent and a dispersant.

Formulations for dispensing from a powder inhaler device will comprise a finely divided dry powder containing adhesin inhibitory agent (or derivative) and may also include a bulking agent, such as lactose, sorbitol, sucrose, or mannitol in amounts which facilitate dispersal of the powder from the device, e.g., 50 to 90% by weight of the formulation. The adhesin inhibitory agent (or derivative) should most advantageously be prepared in particulate form with an average particle size of less than 10 mm (or microns), most preferably 0.5 to 5 mm, for most effective delivery to the distal lung. In another embodiment, the dry powder formulation can comprise a finely divided dry powder containing adhesin inhibitory agent, a dispersing agent and also a bulking agent. Bulking agents useful in conjunction with the present formulation include such agents as lactose, sorbitol, sucrose, or mannitol, in amounts that facilitate the dispersal of the powder from the device.

The present invention further contemplates dry powder formulations comprising adhesin inhibitory agent and another therapeutically effective drug, such as an antibiotic, a steroid, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, etc.

Contemplated for use herein are oral solid dosage forms, which are described generally in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed. 1990 (Mack Publishing Co. Easton Pa. 18042) at Chapter 89, which is herein incorporated by reference. Solid dosage forms include tablets, capsules, pills, troches or lozenges, cachets or pellets. Also, liposomal or proteinoid encapsulation may be used to formulate the present compositions (as, for example, proteinoid microspheres reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,673). Liposomal encapsulation may be used and the liposomes may be derivatized with various polymers (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,556). A description of possible solid dosage forms for the therapeutic is given by Marshall, K. In: Modern Pharmaceutics Edited by G. S. Banker and C. T. Rhodes Chapter 10, 1979, herein incorporated by reference. In general, the formulation will include the component or components (or chemically modified forms thereof) and inert ingredients which allow for protection against the stomach environment, and release of the biologically active material in the intestine.

Also specifically contemplated are oral dosage forms of the above derivatized component or components. The component or components may be chemically modified so that oral delivery of the derivative is efficacious. Generally, the chemical modification contemplated is the attachment of at least one moiety to the component molecule itself, where said moiety permits (a) inhibition of proteolysis; and (b) uptake into the blood stream from the stomach or intestine. Also desired is the increase in overall stability of the component or components and increase in circulation time in the body. Examples of such moieties include: polyethylene glycol, copolymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, carboxymethyl cellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyproline. Abuchowski and Davis, 1981, “Soluble Polymer-Enzyme Abducts” In: Enzymes as Drugs, Hocenberg and Roberts, eds., Wiley-Interscience, New York, N.Y., pp. 367-383; Newmark, et al. (1982) J. Appl. Biochem. 4:185-189. Other polymers that could be used are poly-1,3-dioxolane and poly-1,3,6-tioxocane. Preferred for pharmaceutical usage, as indicated above, are polyethylene glycol moieties.

For the component (or derivative) the location of release may be the stomach, the small intestine (the duodenum, the jejunem, or the ileum), or the large intestine. One skilled in the art has available formulations which will not dissolve in the stomach, yet will release the material in the duodenum or elsewhere in the intestine. Preferably, the release will avoid the deleterious effects of the stomach environment, either by protection of the protein (or derivative) or by release of the biologically active material beyond the stomach environment, such as in the intestine.

To ensure full gastric resistance a coating impermeable to at least pH 5.0 is essential. Examples of the more common inert ingredients that are used as enteric coatings are cellulose acetate trimellitate (CAT), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP), HPMCP 50, HPMCP 55, polyvinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP), Eudragit L30D, Aquateric, cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), Eudragit L, Eudragit S, and Shellac. These coatings may be used as mixed films.

A coating or mixture of coatings can also be used on tablets, which are not intended for protection against the stomach. This can include sugar coatings, or coatings which make the tablet easier to swallow. Capsules may consist of a hard shell (such as gelatin) for delivery of dry therapeutic i.e. powder; for liquid forms, a soft gelatin shell may be used. The shell material of cachets could be thick starch or other edible paper. For pills, lozenges, molded tablets or tablet triturates, moist massing techniques can be used.

The peptide therapeutic can be included in the formulation as fine multiparticulates in the form of granules or pellets of particle size about 1 mm. The formulation of the material for capsule administration could also be as a powder, lightly compressed plugs or even as tablets. The therapeutic could be prepared by compression.

Colorants and flavoring agents may all be included. For example, the protein (or derivative) may be formulated (such as by liposome or microsphere encapsulation) and then further contained within an edible product, such as a refrigerated beverage containing colorants and flavoring agents.

One may dilute or increase the volume of the therapeutic with an inert material. These diluents could include carbohydrates, especially mannitol, a-lactose, anhydrous lactose, cellulose, sucrose, modified dextran and starch. Certain inorganic salts may be also be used as fillers including calcium triphosphate, magnesium carbonate and sodium chloride. Some commercially available diluents are Fast-Flo, Emdex, STA-Rx 1500, Emcompress and Avicell.

Disintegrants may be included in the formulation of the therapeutic into a solid dosage form. Materials used as disintegrates include but are not limited to starch, including the commercial disintegrant based on starch, Explotab. Sodium starch glycolate, Amberlite, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ultramylopectin, sodium alginate, gelatin, orange peel, acid carboxymethyl cellulose, natural sponge and bentonite may all be used. Another form of the disintegrants are the insoluble cationic exchange resins. Powdered gums may be used as disintegrants and as binders and these can include powdered gums such as agar, Karaya or tragacanth. Alginic acid and its sodium salt are also useful as disintegrants. Binders may be used to hold the therapeutic agent together to form a hard tablet and include materials from natural products such as acacia, tragacanth, starch and gelatin. Others include methyl cellulose (MC), ethyl cellulose (EC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) could both be used in alcoholic solutions to granulate the therapeutic.

An antifrictional agent may be included in the formulation of the therapeutic to prevent sticking during the formulation process. Lubricants may be used as a layer between the therapeutic and the die wall, and these can include but are not limited to; stearic acid including its magnesium and calcium salts, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), liquid paraffin, vegetable oils and waxes. Soluble lubricants may also be used such as sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium lauryl sulfate, polyethylene glycol of various molecular weights, Carbowax 4000 and 6000.

Glidants that might improve the flow properties of the drug during formulation and to aid rearrangement during compression might be added. The glidants may include starch, talc, pyrogenic silica and hydrated silicoaluminate.

To aid dissolution of the therapeutic into the aqueous environment a surfactant might be added as a wetting agent. Surfactants may include anionic detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate and dioctyl sodium sulfonate. Cationic detergents might be used and could include benzalkonium chloride or benzethonium chloride. The list of potential nonionic detergents that could be included in the formulation as surfactants are lauromacrogol 400, polyoxyl 40 stearate, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil 10, 50 and 60, glycerol monostearate, polysorbate 40, 60, 65 and 80, sucrose fatty acid ester, methyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose. These surfactants could be present in the formulation of the protein or derivative either alone or as a mixture in different ratios.

Additives which potentially enhance uptake of the polypeptide (or derivative) are for instance the fatty acids oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid.

Pulmonary Delivery. Also contemplated herein is pulmonary delivery of the present polypeptide (or derivatives thereof). The polypeptide (or derivative) is delivered to the lungs of a mammal while inhaling and coats the mucosal surface of the alveoli. Other reports of this include Adjei et al. (1990) Pharmaceutical Research 7:565-569; Adjei et al. (1990) International Journal of Pharmaceutics 63:135-144 (leuprolide acetate); Braquet et al. (1989) Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 13 (suppl. 5):143-146 (endothelin-1); Hubbard et al. (1989) Annals of Internal Medicine, Vol. III, pp. 206-212 (a1-antitrypsin); Smith et al. (1989) J. Clin. Invest. 84:1145-1146 (a-1-proteinase); Oswein et al. (1990) “Aerosolization of Proteins”, Proceedings of Symposium on Respiratory Drug Delivery II, Keystone, Colo., March, (recombinant human growth hormone); Debs et al. (1988) J. Immunol. 140:3482-3488 (interferon-g and tumor necrosis factor alpha) and Platz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,656 (granulocyte colony stimulating factor). A method and composition for pulmonary delivery of drugs for systemic effect is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,569, issued Sep. 19, 1995 to Wong et al.

Contemplated for use in the practice of this invention are a wide range of mechanical devices designed for pulmonary delivery of therapeutic products, including but not limited to nebulizers, metered dose inhalers, and powder inhalers, all of which are familiar to those skilled in the art.

Formulations suitable for use with a, nebulizer, either jet or ultrasonic, will typically comprise polypeptide (or derivative) dissolved in water at a concentration of about 0.1 to 25 mg of biologically active protein per mL of solution. The formulation may also include a buffer and a simple sugar (e.g., for protein stabilization and regulation of osmotic pressure). The nebulizer formulation may also contain a surfactant, to reduce or prevent surface induced aggregation of the protein caused by atomization of the solution in forming the aerosol.

Formulations for use with a metered-dose inhaler device will generally comprise a finely divided powder containing the polypeptide (or derivative) suspended in a propellant with the aid of a surfactant. The propellant may be any conventional material employed for this purpose, such as a chlorofluorocarbon, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon, a hydrofluorocarbon, or a hydrocarbon, including trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethanol and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, or combinations thereof. Suitable surfactants include sorbitan trioleate and soya lecithin. Oleic acid may also be useful as a surfactant.

Formulations for dispensing from a powder inhaler device will comprise a finely divided dry powder containing polypeptide (or derivative) and may also include a bulking agent, such as lactose, sorbitol, sucrose, or mannitol in amounts which facilitate dispersal of the powder from the device, e.g., 50 to 90% by weight of the formulation. The protein (or derivative) should most advantageously be prepared in particulate form with an average particle size of less than 10 mm (or microns), most preferably 0.5 to 5 mm, for most effective delivery to the distal lung.

Nasal Delivery. Nasal or nasopharyngeal delivery of the polypeptide (or derivative) is also contemplated. Nasal delivery allows the passage of the polypeptide directly over the upper respiratory tract mucosal after administering the therapeutic product to the nose, without the necessity for deposition of the product in the lung. Formulations for nasal delivery include those with dextran or cyclodextran.

tide nomenclature, J. Biol. Chem., 243:3552-59 (1969), abbreviations for amino acid

The therapeutic polypeptide-, analog- or active fragment-containing compositions are conventionally administered intravenously, as by injection of a unit dose, for example. The term “unit dose” when used in reference to a therapeutic composition of the present invention refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosage for humans, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required diluent; i.e., carrier, or vehicle.

The compositions are administered in a manner compatible with the dosage formulation, and in a therapeutically effective amount. The quantity to be administered depends on the subject to be treated, capacity of the subject's immune system to utilize the active ingredient, and degree of inhibition or neutralization of ˜binding capacity desired. Precise amounts of active ingredient required to be administered depend on the judgment of the practitioner and are peculiar to each individual. However, suitable dosages may range from about 0.1 to 20, preferably about 0.5 to about 10, and more preferably one to several, milligrams of active ingredient per kilogram body weight of individual per day and depend on the route of administration. Suitable regimes for initial administration and booster shots are also variable, but are typified by an initial administration followed by repeated doses at one or more hour intervals by a subsequent injection or other administration. Alternatively, continuous intravenous infusion sufficient to maintain concentrations of ten nanomolar to ten micromolar in the blood are contemplated.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the following non-limiting Examples, which are provided as exemplary of the invention. The following examples are presented in order to more fully illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention and should in no way be construed, however, as limiting the broad scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Identification of Group B Streptococcus Genes

Comparing the genetic and phenotypic composition of genetically-related groups of a bacterial species facilitates identifying virulence factors present in the most pathogenic groups. Type III GBS can be subdivided into three groups of related strains based on the analysis of restriction digest patterns (RDPs) produced by digestion of chromosomal DNA with Hind III and Sse 8387 (5, 6). Over 90% of invasive type III GBS disease in neonates in Japan and in Salt Lake City is caused by bacteria from one of three RDP types, termed RDP type III-3, while RDP type III-2 are significantly more likely to be isolated from vagina than from blood or CSF (6). These results suggest that this genetically-related cluster of type III-3 GBS are more virulent than III-2 strains and could be responsible for the majority of invasive type III disease globally. We proposed that bacterial factors that contribute to the increased virulence of III-3 strains can be identified by characterizing the differences between the genetic composition of III-3 and III-2 strains. Such genetic differences will be found in the bacterial chromosomes since these strains do not contain plasmids (6).

To identify genes present in virulent type III-3 GBS strains and not in the avirulent type III-2 strains we used a modification of the technique described by Lisitsyn et al (7). High molecular weight genomic DNA from an invasive RDP type III-3 GBS strain (strain 874391) and a colonizing (“avirulent”) RDP type III-2 strain (strain 865043) was prepared by cell lysis with mutanolysin and Proteinase K digestion (5). For genetic subtraction, genomic DNA from both strains was digested with Taq I. Taq I-digested DNA from the virulent strain was mixed with two complementary oligonucleotides (TaqA (5′-CTAGGTGGATCCTTCGGCAAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 11)) and TaqB (5′-CGATTGCCGA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 12)), heated to 50° C. for 5 minutes, then allowed to cool slowly to 16° C. in T4 ligase buffer. Oligonucleotides were ligated to the virulent strain DNA by incubation with 20 units of T4 ligase at 16° C. for 12 hours. After ligation, 500 ng of DNA from the virulent strain, with ligated linkers, and 40 ug of DNA from the avirulent strain, without linkers, was mixed together, denatured by heating, and hybridized at 68° C. for 20 hours.

Ten percent of the resulting hybridization mixture was incubated with Taq DNA polymerase and dNTPs to fill in the ends of annealed virulent strain DNA. The hybridized DNA was amplified by Taq DNA polymerase for 10 cycles using the TaqA oligonucleotide as the forward and reverse amplification primer. After amplification, single stranded products remaining after amplification were digested with mung bean nuclease. Twenty percent of the resulting product was then reamplified for 20 cycles. This process of subtraction followed by PCR amplification results in enhanced amplification of DNA segments from the III-3 strains that do not hybridize with DNA segments from the III-2 strains.

A total of four cycles of subtraction and amplification were carried out, using successively smaller quantities of III-3 specific PCR products and alternating two sets of adaptors (TaqA/B (SEQ ID NOS: 11 and 12, respectively) and TaqE/F (TaqE (5′-AGGCAACTGTGCTAACCGAGGGAAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 13)); and TaqF (5′-CGATTCCCTCG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 14)). The final amplification products were ligated into pBS KS+ vectors. Thirteen clones were randomly selected for analysis. These probes were used in slot and dot blot experiments to determine whether subtraction was successful and to identify probes hybridizing with all III-3 strains. Each of the 6 unique probes hybridized with the parental III-3 virulent strain, while none of the probes hybridized with the avirulent III-2 strains. Two of the amplified sequence tags (clones DY1-1 and DY1-11) hybridized with genomic DNA from all 62 type III isolates, but did not hybridize with DNA prepared from the III-2 and III-1 isolates (FIG. 1). To obtain additional sequence information, we constructed a genomic GBS III-3 library. Multiple plaques hybridizing with each of the III-3 GBS-specific probes have been purified for further characterization.

Results

The spb Locus

Three overlapping genomic clones hybridizing with probe DY1-1 were identified. A 6.4 kb Sal I-Bgl II fragment present in each clone was subcloned and sequenced. This genomic DNA is present in all RDP type III-3 strains but not in serotype III-2, III-1 or other GBS serotype strains.

Over 90% of this genomic DNA fragment has been sequenced and found to contain 5 open reading frames (ORFs). Two ORFs appear to be candidates for virulence genes. spb1 is a 1509 bp ORF. The predicted protein (502 amino acids and Mr 53,446) has the characteristics of a cell-wall bound protein. The nucleic acid and predicted amino acid sequences of sbp1 are provided, in SEQ ID NOS: 15 and 16, respectively. The N-terminus of the predicted protein is a hydrophilic, basic stretch of 6 amino acids followed by a 23 amino acid hydrophobic, proline-rich core, consistent with a signal peptide. The hydrophilic mature protein terminates in a typical LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 17) domain that immediately precedes a hydrophobic 20 amino acid core and a short, basic hydrophilic terminus. The nucleotide sequence is not homologous to sequences of other known bacterial genes. The translated amino acid sequence, however, shares segmental homology with a number of characterized proteins, including the fimbrial type 2 protein of Actinomyces naeslundii (27% identity over 350 amino acids) and the fimbrial type I protein of Actinomyces viscosus (25% homology over 420 amino acids) (16), the T6 surface protein of S. pyogenes (23% identity over 359 amino acids) (20), and the hsf (27% identity over 260 amino acids) and HMW1 adhesins (25% identity over 285 amino acids) of Haemophilus influenzae (21, 22). The function of the S. pyogenes T6 protein is unknown. Each of the other homologs plays a role in bacterial adhesion and/or invasion.

A spb1⁻ isogenic deletion mutant GBS strain was created by homologous recombination (using the method as described in Example 2 below) and the ability of the spb1⁻ mutant to adhere to and invade A549 respiratory epithelial cells was determined. Compared to the wild type strain, the number of spb1⁻ bacteria adherent to A549 monolayers was reduced by 60.0% (p<0.01) and the number of intracellular invading bacteria was reduced by 53.6% (p<0.01). This data suggests spb1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of GBS pneumonia and bacterial entry into the bloodstream.

The second ORF, spb2, terminates 37 bp upstream from spb1 and is in the same transcriptional orientation. This 1692 bp ORF has a deduced amino acid sequence of 579 residues and Mr 64,492. The nucleic acid and predicted amino acid sequences of sbp2 are provided in SEQ ID NOS: 18 and 19, respectively. spb2 shares 50.5% nucleic acid identity and 20.7% amino acid identity with spb1. Conservation is highest in the carboxy-terminal regions, including a shared LPSTGG (SEQ ID NO: 20) motif. In contrast to spb1, spb2 does not have a obvious signal sequence. Its secretion may be mediated by carboxy-terminal recognition sequences or by accessory peptides (23). The deduced amino acid sequence of Spb2 is also homologous with S. pyogenes T6 and Actinomyces naeslundii proteins, and to Listeria monocytogenes internalin A (22% identity over 308 amino acids); again, proteins important in adhesion and invasion (24).

The ema Locus

Two genomic clones hybridizing with probe DY1-11 were identified. A 7 kb Hind III fragment present in each clone was subcloned and sequenced. Unlike the serotype III specific spb sequences, this genomic DNA, which is adjacent to a region of serotype III-3 specific DNA, was found to be present in all GBS tested to date, including serotype Ia, Ib, II and V strains. This region of the GBS chromosome, which we have designated the extracellular matrix adhesin (ema) locus, contains 5 significant ORFs.

emaA

The first ORF, emaA, is 738 bp long, with a predicted protein product of 246 amino acids and Mr 26.2. The nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) and predicted amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) of emaA are shown in FIG. 2. The EmaA protein is a non-repetitive protein. The 27 amino acid N-terminus of the predicted protein is consistent with a signal peptide. The mature protein has an imperfect cell wall binding domain (XPXTGG (SEQ ID NO:21)) followed by a transmembrane spanning domain encompassing residues 219-235 and a terminal hydrophilic tail. The emaA nucleotide sequence is not homologous to known sequences of bacterial genes. The translated amino acid sequence, however, shares segmental homology with a number of characterized proteins, including a collagen adhesin, Bbp, of Staphylococcus aureus (37% identity over 103 aa) (15), a type 2 fimbrial structural subunit of Actinomyces naeslandii (39% homology over 112 aa) (16), and the FimP protein of Actinomyces viscosus (28% homology over 228 aa) (17). The function of the S. pyogenes T6 protein is unknown. The type 1 and type 2 fimbria of Actinomyces mediate bacterial adhesion to salivary glycoproteins and various host cells, contributing to the pathogenesis of dental caries.

emaB

The second ORF, emaB, begins 94 bp 3′ of emaA and is in the same transcriptional orientation. The nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3) and predicted amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4) of emaB are shown in FIG. 3. It is 924 bp long with a predicted protein product of 308 amino acids and Mr 33.9. The predicted EmaB protein is a nonrepetitive protein. The 27 amino acids N-terminus of the predicted protein is consistent with a signal peptide. The mature protein has an imperfect cell wall binding domain (XPXTG) followed by a transmembrane spanning domain encompassing residues 279-294. The emaB nucleotide sequence is not homologous to known sequences of bacterial genes. The translated amino acid sequence, however, shares segmental homology with a number of characterized proteins, including a type 2 fimbrial structural subunit of Actinomyces naeslandii (28% homology over 222 amino acids), the T6 protein of S. pyogenes (26% homology over 266 amino acids) (20), and a S. epidermidis putative cell-surface adhesin (24% identity over 197 amino acids). The first of these proteins mediates adhesion of S. aureus to collagen and is postulated to contribute to the pathogenesis of osteomyelitis and infectious arthritis.

emaC

The third ORF, emaC, begins 2 bp 3′ of emaB and is the same transcriptional orientation. It is 918 bp long, with a predicted protein product of 305 amino acids and Mr 34.5. The nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 5) and predicted amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 6) of emaC are depicted in FIG. 4. The EmaC protein is a nonrepetitive protein. The 30 amino acid N-terminus of the predicted protein is consistent with a signal peptide. The mature protein has a transmembrane spanning domain encompassing residues 265-281. The emaC nucleotide sequence is not homologous to known sequences of bacterial genes. The translated amino acid sequence, however, shares segmental homology with a number of characterized proteins, including proteins associated with the assembly of type 2 fimbrial structural subunit of Actinomyces naeslandii (38% homology over 234 amino acids) (16). These proteins are required for the assembly of type 2 fimbria.

emaD

The fourth ORF, emaD, is 852 bp long, overlaps emaC by 47 bp, and is in the same transcriptional orientation. The predicted protein product is 284 amino acids and Mr 33.1. The nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 7) and predicted amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) of emaD are shown in FIG. 5. No identifiable N-terminal signal sequence is present and potential transmembrane segments are present at positions 19-35 and 252-280. The mature protein is not repetitive and lacks a cell wall binding domain. The emaD nucleotide sequence is not homologous to known sequences of bacterial genes. The translated amino acid sequence, shares segmental homology with the same fimbria-associated proteins of Actinomyces as does EmaC.

emaE

The fifth ORF, emaE, begins 42 bp 3′ of emaD and is in the same transcriptional orientation. It is 2712 bp long, with a predicted protein product of 904 aa and Mr 100.9. FIG. 6 depicts the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 9) and predicted amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 10) of emaE. The predicted EmaE protein is a nonrepetitive protein. An obvious N-terminal signal peptide is not evident but a putative transmembrane region is located at residues 24-40. The mature protein has an imperfect cell wall binding domain (XPXTGG (SEQ ID NO: 21)) followed by a transmembrane spanning domain encompassing residues 880-896. The emaE nucleotide sequence is not homologous to known sequences of bacterial genes. The translated amino acid sequence, however, shares segmental homology with a number of characterized proteins, including the F1 and F2 fibronectin binding proteins of S. pyogenes (31% homology over 207 amino acids) (18, 19). These proteins mediate high affinity binding to fibronectin, and are important in the adhesion of S. pyogenes to respiratory cells.

The similarity of the protein products of the ema locus to physiologically important adhesins and invasins of other bacterial species suggests that the Ema proteins have a role in facilitating the adhesion of GBS to extracellular matrix components and to cell surfaces and subsequent invasion of epithelial and endothelial cells, the initial steps in the pathogenesis of infection.

Several lines of evidence suggest the members of the ema and the spb locus may have similar functions, but are likely to represent distinct classes of proteins. The ema and spb locus genes are each and all similar to physiologically important adhesions and invasions of the bacterial species, however, both Spb1 and Spb2 have prototypical gram positive cell-wall binding domains, whereas the members of the ema locus have an unusual motif, suggesting a distinct mechanism of cell surface anchoring. Second, the spb locus is restricted to virulent serotype III-3 strains of GBS, whereas the ema locus appears to be ubiquitous in all GBS serotypes. Third, spb1 and spb2 are more homologous to one another than to members of the ema locus and ema genes are more closely homologous to one another than to spb1 and spb2.

EXAMPLE 2 Biologic Characterization of Novel GBS Genes

Isogenic Mutant Bacterial Strains

To identify biologic activity of these novel GBS genes, isogenic mutant bacterial strains are created which are identical in all respects except for the presence or absence of a particular gene. Deletion mutants are created by allelic replacement. The relevant gene, with 100-300 bp of flanking sequences, is subcloned and modified by the deletion of an intragenic portion of the coding sequence and, in some cases, the insertion of a kanamycin resistance gene. The mutant gene is cloned into the suicide vector pHY304 (kindly provided by Dr. Craig Rubens), a broad host range plasmid containing a temperature sensitive ori, erythromycin resistance gene (erm^(TS)), and a pBS multiple cloning site. The pHY304 vector is a derivative of the vector pWV01 (Framson, P. E. et al (1997) Applied Environ Microbiology 63:3539-3547). Plasmids containing mutant genes are electroporated into strain 874391 and single cross-over mutants are selected by antibiotic resistance at 37° C. The resulting antibiotic resistant colonies are subjected to a temperature shift to 30° C. Integration of the plasmid is unstable at this permissive temperature because there are two functional ori's on the chromosome. Excised plasmid is eliminated by growth on nonselective media for many generations, then colonies are screened for the presence of the mutant allele by erythromycin-sensitivity. Double-crossover mutants are stable and do not require maintenance under drug selection. The mutant genotype is confirmed by Southern blotting or PCR demonstrating the appropriate deletion. The resulting mutants are screened for the presence of gene expression by Northern and Western blot analysis. The phenotype of the knockout mutants is then compared with that of the wild type strain 874391 by examining growth rate and colony morphology, and the expression of β-hemolysin and CAMP factor. Surface protein expression is assessed by Western blot, using polyclonal sera from rabbits immunized with whole, heat-killed type III GBS.

In Vitro Models

A. Adherence

Adhesion of GBS to host cells is a prerequisite for invasive disease. Three different cell types have the potential to be important in this process: i) adhesion to respiratory epithelial cells is likely to facilitate most early onset neonatal infections, ii) adhesion to gastrointestinal epithelial cells has been postulated to be important in the pathogenesis of late onset neonatal infections, and iii) adhesion to endothelial cells is necessary for both endocarditis and other endovascular infections, and is likely to be the initial event in GBS meningitis. The ability of wild type and mutant strains to adhere to epithelial and endothelial cells is compared in adhesion assays.

Four different cell lines are used to investigate the role of novel GBS genes in adhesion. GBS adhere to and invade A549 human alveolar epithelial carcinoma cells and surface proteins appear to play an important role in this process (8). GBS binding to A549 cells is used as an in vitro model for respiratory colonization. GBS also adhere to C2BBeL, a human intestinal epithelial cell line, which is used as a model for gastrointestinal colonization, and to HeLa cervical epithelial cells, a model for genital colonization and maternal infection. For endothelial adhesion, two cell lines are studied: freshly isolated human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells; and an immortalized human brain microvascular endothelial cell line (BMEC). Adhesion assays are performed as described by Tamura et al (9). Cell lines are grown to confluence in 96-well tissue culture plates in recommended media. Monolayers are washed with PBS and fixed with 0.5% gluteraldehyde. Following blocking with 5% BSA in PBS, cells are inoculated with various inocula of GBS, centrifuged for 10 minutes at 2000 rpm and incubated for 1 hour at 4° C. Nonadherent bacteria are removed by washing three times with 5% nonfat dry milk in PBS and bound bacteria are then eluted and plated quantitatively.

B. Invasion

GBS adhere to and invade respiratory epithelium, endothelium and BMEC (8, 10, 11). The ability of wild type and isogenic mutant GBS strains to invade the above epithelial and endothelial cells are tested as previously described (8, 10, 11). Assays that distinguish the ability of GBS to invade eukaryotic cells versus adhere to cells capitalize on the inability of penicillin and gentamicin to enter host cells, allowing quantification of intracellular bacteria after extracellular bacteria are killed. GBS are grown to the desired growth phase in TH broth, washed twice with PBS and resuspended in tissue culture media containing 10% fetal calf serum. Tissue culture monolayers grown to confluence in 24-well plates are inoculated with varying inocula of GBS, centrifuged at 800×g and incubated at 37° C. in 5% CO₂ for 2-6 hours. Extracellular bacteria are removed by washing four times with PBS. Cells are then incubated in fresh medium with 5 mg/ml penicillin and 100 mg/ml gentamicin for 2 hours. Media is then removed, monolayers washed, and cells lysed by treatment with 0.025% Triton X-100. Cell lysates are sonicated to disrupt bacterial chains and aliquots plated quantitatively.

C. Antibody to GBS Proteins

The ability of specific antibody to the novel GBS proteins to promote opsonophagocytic killing of GBS is tested (12). Rabbits are immunized with recombinant or purified GBS proteins produced by standard techniques. Rabbit antiserum of different dilutions (ranging from 1/50 to 1/5,000) that has been exhaustively absorbed with the relevant isogenic mutant strain at 4° C. will be incubated with GBS in the presence of human complement and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (3×10⁶). Opsonophagocytic killing is expressed as the log number of CFU surviving following 1 hour of incubation subtracted from the log of the number of CFU at the zero time point. Killing of wild type strains is compared to that of isogenic mutants lacking novel GBS proteins.

In Vivo Models

The neonatal rat has been used by numerous laboratories as a model of GBS infection because it closely mimics human neonatal infection (13). The contribution of novel genes to the pathogenesis of GBS infections is tested by comparing wild type and mutant in this system. Rat pups are inoculated by two routes. First, pups are inoculated intranasally to mimic the respiratory infection and sepsis typical of early onset GBS infection. Secondly, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous inoculation reproduces the high grade bacteremia associated with GBS sepsis and that precedes GBS meningitis (14).

Rat pups are inoculated with varying doses of GBS strains and mortality is determined. The level of bacteremia is determined by quantitative blood cultures. Lung, liver, spleen and meningeal tissue are preserved for histologic examination.

The ability of antiserum to the GBS proteins to protect neonatal rats from GBS infection is tested (13). Newborn rats (<18 hours old) receive an intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml of undiluted rabbit antiserum, followed by the intraperitoneal inoculation of the equivalent of one LD50 unit of GBS (usually about 5000 bacteria) in PBS. Mortality and morbidity are then determined.

Role of Novel GBS Proteins in Vaccines

Several surface proteins of GBS, including C and Rib are immunogenic and protective against GBS infection in infant rodent models (25, 26). None of these proteins are present in all GBS strains (27). Furthermore, each of these proteins has a repetitive structure. The phenotypic variability of these repetitive proteins allows escape mutants expressing variant forms to evade host immune systems and may limit the effectiveness of these vaccines (28). It is notable that each of the predicted proteins of the spb and ema loci do not have a repetitive structure and would not have this disadvantage.

The novel GBS proteins we describe here may be useful antigens for a GBS vaccine. The data presented herein indicates these proteins have a role in mediating adhesion to and invasion of GBS to human epithelial cells, thus antibody against these antigens may prevent these initial steps in infection. It is highly desirable to develop a vaccine that prevents colonization of pregnant women and other individuals at increased risk of invasive GBS infection, as this would eliminate most infections. Our data suggests that antibody against Spb1 is effective in reducing colonization or infection following colonization with highly virulent strains of serotype III, and therefore this protein is a particularly useful vaccine antigen. Members of the ema locus, unlike spb1 and spb2, are ubiquitous in GBS and therefore have a role in the prevention of infection by multiple serotypes of GBS. An optimal vaccine formulation includes combinations of these antigens.

Two strategies are used to design GBS vaccines using these novel proteins. First, purified recombinant or affinity-purified proteins are used as vaccine antigens, singly or in combination (25). Second, these proteins are used as carrier proteins for capsular polysaccharide or oligosaccharide-based vaccines. GBS polysaccharides and oligosaccharides are generally poorly immunogenic and fail to elicit significant memory and booster responses (29). Conjugation of these polysaccharides or oligosaccharides to protein carriers increases immunogenicity. GBS polysaccharide conjugated to tetanus toxoid, for example, has been used to immunize pregnant women and results in high levels of maternal serum anti-polysaccharide antibody which may be transferred to the fetus in the third trimester of pregnancy (30). Selection of appropriate carrier proteins is important for the development of polysaccharide-protein vaccine formulations. For example, Haemophilus influenzae type b poly- or oligosaccharide conjugated to different protein carriers has variable immunogenicity and elicits antibody with varying avidity (31, 32). Repeated immunization with the same carrier protein may also suppress immune responses by competition for specific B cells (epitopic suppression) or other mechanisms. This is of particular concern for the development of GBS vaccines since recently developed polysaccharide and oligosaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines against the bacteria H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis all utilize a restricted number of carrier proteins (tetanus toxoid, CRM197, diphtheria toxoid), increasing the number of exposures to these carriers an individual is likely to receive. A “designer” vaccine, composed of a GBS polysaccharide or oligosaccharide coupled to a GBS-specific carrier protein, such as the novel GBS polypeptides provided herein, particularly including Spb1, EmaC and EmaE, may be a preferable strategy. The large size of certain of these novel GBS antigens may also be an advantage to traditional carrier proteins as increasing size is associated with improved immunogenicity.

EXAMPLE 3 EMA Homologs in Streptococci and Other Bacteria

As noted above, the GBS Ema proteins share segmental homology with certain characterized proteins from other bacterial species, including bacterial adhesion and invasion proteins. The segmental homolog is noted as in the range of 24-39%. In addition, the Ema proteins demonstrate some homology to one another. A comparison of the ema genes shows that EmaA and EmaB are 47% homologous, however, due to the difference in their predicted lengths it is necessary to insert gaps in the EmaA sequence in order to line them up. The two Ema proteins which are most similar in structure, EmaC and EmaD share 48.7% amino acid homology to one another. EmaA/B, EmaC/D and EmaE are each ≦20% homologous to one another.

The ema sequences were used to search the unannotated microbial genomes (Eubacteria). The predicted Ema proteins were searched against translations in all six frames (tblast x) of finished and unfinished unannotated microbial genomes available at the web site of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Segmental amino acid homolog was identified.

EmaA has some segmental homolog with S. pneumoniae, E. faecalis, B. anthracis and C. diptheriae. Ema B has some segmental homolog with B. anthracis. EmaE has segmental homology to S. pyogenes and lesser homology to B. anthracis.

Significant homology was identified between the GBS EmaC and EmaD and proteins in other bacterial species. EmaC has significant (55% identity over 149 amino acids) homology to a region of the S. pneumoniae chromosome and the S. pyogenes chromosome (47% identity over 150 amino acids). Lesser segmental homology was found to E. faecalis, S. equi, and C. diptheriae. EmaD has strong segmental homology (66% over 184 amino acids) to a region of the S. pneumoniae chromosome, and lesser segmental homology to C. diptheriae and S. pyogenes.

We have identified two Ema homologs in S. pneumoniae. These S. pneumoniae homologs show homology to EmaC and EmaD and, like EmaC and EmaD, also demonstrate homology to fimbria-associated protein of Actinomyces. The encoding nucleic acid and predicted amino acid sequence of the first S. pneumoniae EmaC/D homolog are provided in SEQ ID NOS: 24 and 23, respectively. The genome region nucleic acid including the first homolog encoding sequence is provided in SEQ ID NO: 22. The nucleic acid and predicted amino acid sequence of the second S. pneumoniae EmaC/D homolog are provided in SEQ ID NOS: 27 and 26 respectively. The genomic region nucleic acid of this second homolog is found in SEQ ID NO: 25. An EmaC/D homolog has been identified in Enterococcus faecalis by search and analysis. The E. faecalis EmaC/D homolog predicted amino acid sequence is provided in SEQ ID NO: 29. The nucleic acid sequence encoding this E. faecalis Ema homolog is provided in SEQ ID NO: 30. The nucleic acid sequence of E. faecalis which genomic region encodes the EmaC/D homolog is provided in SEQ ID NO: 28.

We have also identified an EmaD homolog in Corynebacterium diptheriae. The predicted amino acid sequence of the C. diptheriae EmaD homolog is provided in SEQ ID NO: 32. C. diptheriae nucleic acid sequence which encodes the homolog is found in SEQ ID NO: 33. The corresponding genomic region sequence of C. diptheriae is provided in SEQ ID NO: 31.

A predicted EmaC/D homolog has been identified in S. pyogenes. The predicted partial amino acid sequence of this Ema homolog provided in SEQ ID NO: 37.

A region of amino acids TLLTCTPYMINS/THRLLVR/KG (SEQ ID NO: 34) is found in GBS EmaC, GBS EmaD, in both the EmaC/D homologs of S. pneunoniae, and in the E. faecalis Ema homolog. A similar sequence TLVTCTPYGINTHRLLVTA (SEQ ID NO: 35) is also found in the C. diptheriae Ema homolog. The S. pyogenes predicted Ema homolog has a similar sequence TLVTCTPYGVNTKRLLVRG (SEQ ID NO: 36) as well.

The following is a list of the references referred to in this Example section.

REFERENCES

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This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present disclosure is therefore to be considered as in all aspects illustrate and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended Claims, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embraced therein.

Various references are cited throughout this Specification, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

1. An isolated nucleic acid which encodes Extracellular Matrix Adhesion Protein A (EmaA) which comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a polypeptide comprising amino acids 28-245 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 2. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of: a. the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; b. DNA sequences that hybridize to the sequence of subpart (a) under hybridization conditions of 5×SSC and 65° C. for both hybridization and wash c. the nucleic acid that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1; d. nucleic acids that hybridize to the nucleic acid of subpart (c) under hybridization conditions of 5×SSC and 65° C. for both hybridization and wash.
 3. A vector which comprises the nucleic acid of claim 1 and a promoter.
 4. The vector of claim 3, wherein the promoter comprises a bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian promoter.
 5. The vector of claim 3, wherein the vector is a plasmid, cosmid, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), bacteriophage or eukaryotic viral DNA.
 6. A host vector system for the production of a polypeptide which comprises the vector of claim 3 in a suitable host cell.
 7. The host vector system of claim 6, wherein the suitable host cell comprises a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell.
 8. The nucleic acid of claim 1 which is a recombinant DNA molecule.
 9. The recombinant DNA molecule of claim 8, wherein the DNA molecule is operatively linked to an expression control sequence.
 10. A unicellular host transformed with a recombinant DNA molecule of claim
 8. 11. A method for detecting the presence of a bacterium having a gene encoding a streptococcal Extracellular Matrix Adhesion Protein A (EmaA) polypeptide comprising: a. contacting a sample in which the presence or activity of the bacterium is suspected with an oligonucleotide which hybridizes to a streptococcal emaA nucleic acid of claim 1 under conditions that allow specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide to the gene to occur; and b. detecting whether hybridization has occurred between the oligonucleotide and the gene; wherein the detection of hybridization indicates that presence or activity of the bacterium in the sample. 